Wordless Wednesday

My sweet girl was the flower girl in her Aunt's (and Godmother!!) wedding this past weekend.
She wanted to put on her shoes all by herself...so intent!

Mother's Day Flower Pot

Can you believe Mother's Day is already upon us?

I know I can't.

My kids are lucky enough to have both of their grandma's living in the same city as our family.  This makes it fun to do little gifts for the grandparents from their grandkids on Mother's Day and Father's Day.  Even if this just means a handmade card by the kids.

We haven't made the craft/gift yet for this year (I know I only have 2 days left!). I have the idea, but my mom reads this blog and I don't want to spoil the surprise (or disappoint if the idea doesn't pan out!)

I thought I would share a gift we made a few years ago from my daughter for each of her grandma's just in case you're looking for a last minute gift idea!

　

Isn't it cute?

This is my mom's, which has the name "Nonna" written on it. That is what she is called by the grandkids. My mother-in-law is "Nana". (Yes, sometimes this can get confusing!)

I don't have any step by step pictures since I made this 2 years ago. However it's pretty easy to explain:

What you'll need:

Colored paper (or you can just color white paper yourself!)

Green pipe cleaners

Pictures

Clay pot

Acrylic Paint

Ribbon

Pinto Beans (or something similar)

Mod Podge/Glue

What to do:

I took some different colored paper and had my daughter do some fabulous drawings on them. Then I cut the paper into tulip shapes (cut 2 shapes for each flower that you want for the end product).

I glued a green pipe cleaner in between 2 tulip shapes. On one of the tulips I glued a picture of my daughter.  I also added the date on the bottom of one of the flowers.  I like to do this to most gifts I make so that in years to come when your memory isn't as sharp, you can remember when the gift was made!

For the flower pot I just used some acrylic paint and painted "Nonna" (or "Nana" for the other one).  There is also a heart drawn on the other side that is not pictured.  I then glued some ribbon around the top edge in a coordinating color :)

I filled the pot with pinto beans for stability and stuck the flowers in the beans.

So simple!

My mom's still sits on her desk at work. And this is such an easy gift to add more "flowers" as the number of grandkids increases :)

　

Happy Mother's Day to my mom and all mom's this weekend!

Non-Edible Cupcakes

If you're like me, you like to add a personal/creative touch to the gifts that you give.

I always try to buy off of a bride or mom-to-be's gift registry, (because I know that's what they want!) but I always try to do something a little "extra" to make the gift more special.

I just seems a little more personal than "Here - I know you already like this gift because you picked it out yourself!".

So, when I had a baby shower to go to for one of my dearest friends, I first took a quick look at her baby registry. Once I saw the registry, I knew JUST what I wanted to create, from a gift that she had already picked out herself!

She registered for these cute girly burp cloths:

{source: target.com}

I was able to turn this cute little pack of burp cloths, into an even cuter little batch of cupcakes!!

　

To be honest, I didn't time myself to see how long it took to package these up, but it was no time at all....maybe 15-20 minutes. Tops.  And that includes my amazing photography.

After I rolled the "cupcakes" and placed them in the jumbo cupcake liners, I clipped some little hair bows that I picked up at the store to toothpicks and inserted them as "cupcake toppers". I think that was my favorite part. Now we're just hoping this baby has some hair so she'll be able to use them :)

And isn't the presentation so much cuter than just picking it from the rack at the store and stuffing it into a bag?

I did tie the box with some multicolored grosgrain ribbon (in coordinating colors, of course), but forgot to take a picture of it. I added it to my gift bag, with a few other things for the mom-to-be.

I think they turned out super cute!

You can try this idea with numerous items that a mom-to-be might have on her registry, including washcloths, onesies, or even socks!

　

And of course, it goes along with the theme of my new hobby/business...don't you agree?!

　

　

Hobby or business?

When I was growing up, my mom used to make us homemade birthday cakes.

Nothing overly elaborate, like some of the birthday cakes you might see today, but she still baked each of us a birthday cake and decorated it with love.  (I wish I had pictures here, they were great cakes, and plus, I was a cute kid! ha!)

When we were young, it was always a shaped cake pan decorated to the accompanying pattern. My siblings and I had birthday cakes ranging from Rainbow Brite, Bugs Bunny, clowns, baseball gloves, bubblegum machines, etc. I've even inherited some of the pans that my mom saved over the years!

As the years went on, the cakes became less elaborate, and the joke now is that mom doesn't even take the cake out of the pan. Just bake a standard 9"x13" cake, leave it in the pan, and frost the top!

　

I had decided after I had my first child, that I too, would make my kids' birthday cakes each year. 3 years in, and I've stuck to my promise.

Check it out for yourself (and please excuse the poor pictures...I need a new camera!

　

{T's first birthday cake & smash cake}

{T's 2nd birthday cake, Elmo of course!}

{T's 3rd birthday cake}

{T (3) & JB's (1st) birthday cake}

{JB's 1st birthday smash cake + mini cupcakes}



{dessert table at joint party}



　

　

As you can see, the cakes aren't overly elaborate, but I love knowing that I did it myself. Each year for Christmas, I ask for some new "tool" to help me along with my baking skills. I am totally all self-taught, although I've toyed with the idea of taking some decorating classes.

Baking has become more of my "thing" and now I'm usually the one that volunteers to make the dessert for various family and friend functions.  I've always dreamed of starting my own business and baking delicious treats, but honestly, don't have the guts to put myself out there like that.

Yesterday was my sister-in-law's last bridal shower before her big day (coming up in less than a month!!) and I had the responsibility for the cake. Of course I wouldn't being buying a decorated cake from the store, and I took her color theme and ran with it. Her wedding colors are cornflower blue and yellow, so of course that needed to be the cupcake and cake colors as well.

My father-in-law's side of the family is quite large (he's one of 12 children) and almost all remain local. I needed to be able to feed approximately 50 women for the shower :)

I made a very small cake, and tried a new "rose" technique I had seen but hadn't had reason to try.  I thought it turned out OK for my first trial. 

Next up were the cupcakes.  I made some mini cupcakes, as well as some traditional sized cupcakes, and did a combination of the yellow and blue icing.  "Rose" swirls, of course (her wedding flowers are roses, too!).

Sorry for the terrible lighting in the next few pictures, but the "cake area" at the party was on a kitchen counter that didn't have any natural light and was a little dark.  You'll get the idea!



{the bride's new last name starts with an "N" if you couldn't guess!}



As I was unloading the cupcakes and making my "cake display" more than a few people asked if this was a new business of mine or just a hobby.  At first I answered that it was mostly a hobby...but that I wouldn't mind if it turned into a business!  I had always day dreamed about doing something like this as a business, but could it really be a reality?!  Who knows.

At the end of the party, I offered my cake baking services for the next bridal shower (only a little over a month away....remember when I said it's a large family?  That means LOTS of bridal/baby showers!!). 

I also volunteered to make cupcakes for the bachelorette party "pre-party" this weekend.

Today, I daydreamed a little more seriously about making my dream a reality.  But on a small scale.  As in, starting with word of mouth among friends and family and seeing where it takes me.  Who knows, right?

Maybe this won't actually go any farther than just being the one who always makes dessert for family functions. 

I guess you never know for sure unless you really put yourself out there and actually take a chance.

Cheddar Cracker Carrot

I know I promised in this post to share how I was going to make my "chedder cracker carrots".

A little late, but here you go!

They were SUPER easy to do, but was a more fun way to give an edible gift.

(My daughter LOVED them!)

　

Here's what you need:

Icing decorator bag

Green ribbon (I just used curing ribbon)

Filling (I used the Target brand of cheddar crackers, shaped like little chicks - perfect for Easter!)

　

Ready?

Take your decorator bag. Fill it with your crackers (or jelly beans or whatever you decide to use).

Twist the bag.

Tie with Ribbon.

　

It told you it was easy!

(1 box of crackers exactly filled two 12" decorator bags.  Perfect!)

Enjoy!

Beans, beans, beans

Since I've already introduced you to my best friend, I thought I'd share an even easier recipe with you.
Seriously, easiest dinner you'll ever make.

Ready?
It's oh so cleverly called: Sausage and Green Beans.
And it's one of my kids favorite meals.

Ingredients:

Smoked Sausage
Frozen Cut Green Beans
Seasoning of your choice (optional)

I wasn't kidding when I said it was easy.

I usually add 3 bags of frozen green beans to the crockpot and add some water so that they don't stick to the pot.  I add some garlic and dehydrated onion (because I usually don't have fresh onion on hand) and sometimes some black pepper. 

I add the smoked sausage on top but don't cut it.  The reason I don't cut it, is because just like most of my crockpot meals, it probably cooks too long and that helps it from getting too dried out.
I love the green beans to be on the mushy side for this meal, and so do the kids, so actually it works out well that this cooks for about 9 hours because that helps them get nice and cooked!  Make sure to use a slotted spoon to drain out the water when you serve it up!

Sometimes I do add some sort of potato to this to try and round out the meal, or I'll add a side of garlic bread.  Many nights it can be a struggle to get my daughter to eat her veggies.  Not so with this meal.  Maybe it's because it's pretty much the base of the meal, as opposed to a side item.  I'm not sure why, but I just roll with it. 
Most nights, she asks for seconds!

{please excuse his ridiculous, long over due hair cut in this picture!  I promise it has since been cut!}

I'm all about easy meals that everyone in the family loves.  I grew up on this meal, and it's still a winner in my house!

Hippity-Hoppity Easter's On It's Way

Wow, it's been a while since I've blogged. I know you've missed me (all one  of you that is probably reading my random ramblings!)

Anyway, with Easter right around the corner, I thought I would share my Easter basket ideas.  Hopefully this post will be a little bit more timely than the super bowl post.

While I do give the kids candy in their Easter baskets, I really try to limit the amount that they get. The grandparents' also know my thoughts on the excess candy situation, and for the most part they stick to my wishes. (In the interest of full disclosure, grandparents still like to do whatever they want).  

I'm really not a prude and refuse to give my kids candy or sweets or anything like that (trust me, they get more than their fair share). But let's be real here; no 3 year old and 1 year old need THAT MUCH candy. Plus, mommy is much more likely to eat it if it's around, so it's best for all parties involved if we limit the intake. (Luckily, I'm only on bag THREE of the jellybeans so far).

Both of my kids birthdays are in the fall, so I kind of use Easter as an excuse to give "gifts" that I would probably be buying anyway since there is no birthday or Christmas in the coming months.

So, what are my kids getting this year?!

I'm glad you're so curious!

For my three year old daughter:

*Nail Polish (this has yet to be purchased, it will most likely be purple since that is her favorite color!)

*Sidewalk Chalk

*A new spring outfit (picture the dress with cute white legging capris....that I'm sure won't stay white for very long!)



{source: Carters.com}



*2 new books, with two of her favorite current obsessions (Curious George and Super Why!)

{source: Amazon.com}

{source: Amazon.com}

　

　

For my 18 month old son:

*New spring PJ's (have you caught on to the subtle baseball theme?!)



{source: Kohls.com}

*Rain Coat


{source: Kohls.com}


*Of course, a book.  This is one of my favorites from when I was a kid, but I bought the board book version for smaller hands:

{source: Amazon.com}

*Bubbles, bubble, and more bubbles.  This isn't the exact same bubble set that we purchased, but it's most similar. Basically, it's a tumbler and it's awesome because IT DOESN'T SPILL.  Amazing.  We already had two of them, but we've lost the wand on one and the kids fight over them all.the.time.  So, more bubbles it is!

{source: Amazon.com}

*I will also probably add a ball or something else to play with outside



Other popular items that may or may not make it into the baskets this year (I haven't actually put together the baskets, so we'll see how everything fits):

-Crayons
-Coloring book
-Stamps
-Stickers



In addition to this fun stuff, they will of course get candy.  I like to fill plastic eggs with jellybeans.  Not only does this limit the amount of jellybeans they get, they think it's fun to open the eggs and have surprises inside! 
I'm sure there will also be some peanut butter eggs because they are my favorite my daughter's favorite.  I'll throw in one box of peeps for good measure because what is Easter without peeps!?!

I will also be attempting to be cute and crafty by making a "carrot" out of cheddar crackers.  I bought the Target brand because they are little chicks instead of fish which is clearly more Eastery (is that even a word?!).  I'll post pictures after I actually make them!


If you have any suggestions for items you like to fill your Easter baskets with, share them in the comments!  I would love to hear them!

Meet my best friend

Do you all love your crock pot as much as I do? (ok, I think the technical term is slow-cooker because crock pot is a brand name, but you know what I mean)

It is seriously one of my best friends. Let me explain:

5:00pm is by far one of the most hectic times of our day during the work week. It's when we're getting home from work, picking up the kids, feeding the dog and letting her outside, and trying to get a (somewhat) wholesome meal on the table so that we can all eat together as a family before it gets cold. And all of that must happen in a span of about 15 minutes.

I've picked up a few tricks to try and combat the craziness, but there's only so much you can do.

Into my best friend, the slow cooker.

Dinner is already made for me, and all I have to do is lift the lid and dish some deliciousness onto the kids plates to let it cool off for a minute before it's served.

Talk about awesome.

One of the other things I love about the slow cooker is that it is basically effortless. Dump a bunch of ingredients into a big pot and turn it on. Really. It's that simple. I'm always experimenting with new "recipes" if you can even call them that. I rarely measure ingredients and many times will just add in random items that I have on hand or left-over.

Here's my latest creation (before being cooked):

　

　

I know you can't see all of the ingredients in this picture, and I'm a bad blogger by not taking step by step instructions. But I know you're smart and I bet you can figure it out from my super simple instructions:

What you'll need:

2-3 lbs of boneless, skinless chicken breasts

8oz cream cheese, softened (I use fat free; use your preference)

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 can corn, drained and rinsed

1 can diced tomatoes, juices included (Get creative here...I used diced tomatoes with green chilies; you can use any variation you wish!)

1/2 small onion, chopped

Add any spices you enjoy (I always add garlic, because I'm a garlic lover)

　

Layer ingredients into the slow cooker in the order listed above. Turn slow cooker on low and let it cook for a few hours (until chicken is cooked through).

**Here's the thing, since I cook mine while I'm at work for 8-10 hours, I really have no idea how long it takes until it's done. I know mine is slightly over cooked, but that's the awesome thing about slow cookers...it's pretty difficult to ruin the meal!)

I served mine with rice, all mixed together :) I had made the rice the night before (after the kids went to bed) so that took about 1 minute or so to heat up the microwave :)

You can eat it as is, like a casserole type dish, or we actually then put the entire mixture (with rice) served on soft taco shells with lettuce, cheese, and avocado (I'm sure my husband added hot sauce; he always adds hot sauce).

We don't have a name for it other than Crockpot Mexican Chicken Mix...if you come up with something better/more creative, feel free to share in the comments below :)

　

　

They're Baaaaaaccckk!

Oh man. They are back.

It is a weakness that I have, and it only happens one time a year. That time is now.

And no, it is not Girl Scout Cookies. (Although, those are also awesome, and I have such a weakness for boxes of Tagalongs and Samoas).

I'm talking about Jelly Beans.

Not just any jelly beans....STARBURST jelly beans.

Have you ever had them? If not, stop what you're doing and head to the nearest store where jelly beans are sold. You will want to buy more than one bag.

On second thought, maybe you don't want to try them. Because once you do...seriously, it is hard to stop eating them.  (**Do not blame me for your newest addiction.  Consider yourself warned.**)

I'm typically not even a huge jelly bean fan. I mean, I think they are good and all, but they aren't something I really get cravings for or drool over. Except for this brand (in original flavor only!).

I'm not even really a huge Starburst fan. But the two worlds combined?? It's too much to handle.

There isn't really much else to say, because let's face it: This post is about jelly beans. Jelly beans are pretty basic. But these are amazing, and you MUST try them.

That's all :)

Be Careful What You Wish For

Wow, it feels like it's been a while since I've posted.  Probably because I've been so tired!  Which is fitting for today's Thoughtful Thursday post!

Have you heard the saying: "Be careful what you wish for"?

I feel pretty safe in saying almost everyone has had these little words of wisdom whispered to them at some point in their life.

I couldn't help but think of this saying, as I have been wishing, pretty much daily, for the past few months, for my sweet little boy to JUST SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT!

To be honest, the sleepless nights don't really get to me when my babies are babies. I guess I just kind of chalk it up to a requirement of motherhood. Neither of my babies slept through the night for the entire first year of their life. Ok, sorry, if we're being completely honest, my daughter DID sleep through the night for about 1 month from about just before she turned 3 months old until right before she turned 4 months old; then not again until she was about 15ish months old. I think it was her dirty little trick to make me think going back to work wouldn't be so bad. I told everyone I worked with it wasn't so hard to go back to work full-time because I had a baby that slept. Life was great! Then she said "HaHa mommy, jokes on you!" and stopped that nice little sleeping through the night bit.

My son has decided to follow in his big sister's footsteps. Only, he's now almost 17 months old and still waking at least  once per night, many nights twice. " Why is he waking?" you might ask. I. HAVE. NO. IDEA!

He wakes up screaming and refuses to go back to sleep unless being held. He will be out cold in your arms and the minute you even stand from the chair, he's squirming and fussing and carrying on.

***Oh, unless he's staying at either grandparents' house. Then he sleeps through the night like a perfect angel and my parents and in-laws think I'm lying to their face for sympathy points or something crazy like that because their precious grandson sleeps from 7:30pm to 7:30am with no problems.***

I've read many books and articles about a consistant bed time routine. The problem is not the going to sleep the first time. He goes to bed just fine. The problem is once he wakes after a few hours. Then all bets are off. I've tried using cue words, music, no music, white noise, night light, no night light, etc, etc, etc. I feel like I've tried it all. This boy just loves his cuddles.

Part of me says enjoy the cuddles. There will be a day when he doesn't want them. Then the other part of me (the working mom who needs to function during the day) says I need my sleep too!! It's been 17 MONTHS of no sleep and times up buddy! Once you turn one, mommy's patience is done.  You're past your grace period!

Anyway...back to the "Be careful what you wish for" phase.

I really cannot think of why I would need to be careful about my wishful thinking of a full night's sleep. What harm can really come of everyone in the family sleeping through the night?!

Game Day....A Day Late!

In case you missed it....yesterday was the Super Bowl.

I love sports.  Playing them, watching them, talking about them.  Volleyball is my favorite, with basketball a close second. 

I understand the rules and the game of football (mostly) but I can't say it is a favorite of mine.
Then add in that the Super Bowl was not showcasing a team I really follow or care much about and well, let's just say I was into the Super Bowl this year just so that I could make (and eat) some good food!

I know this post doesn't really help YOU do some creative cooking for an event that took place yesterday, but you can just file this away for future reference.  Or maybe you have a little boy's football themed birthday party and you're still looking for ideas!

Anyway...I got creative yesterday!

My daughter loves to help in the kitchen.  So, we decided to make a fan favorite...Rice Crispy Treats!  Only we made them with a little twist.  I used Cocoa Crispies (ok, actually, I used the store brand generic version).  But instead of placing them in a standard pan, I used a muffin tin.  It was perfect for making individually sized treats.  I used the excess to form a football shape for a larger focal point :)

After the treats were cooled, I took out my cake decorating supplies, and piped some laces onto my "footballs".  I even had an extra helper, who decided to help himself to some icing!

Super easy, super yummy :)


Next up was my taco dip.  This is a recipe that I usually make, but I changed up the presentation a bit to make it football themed.

Why, yes, those are opposing olive teams.  And yes, there are 11 players on each team.  It's all in the details :) 

And in case your interested...here's the recipe for my taco dip!  I usually use lower fat ingredients to make it a little bit healthier, but any version will work.  I included quantities for each ingredient, but to be honest, usually I just eyeball it.  So, feel free to adjust as you feel necessary!  (This recipe is also easily doubled to feed larger crowds)

Michelle's Taco Dip
1 can refried beans (this time I used black bean refried beans because that's what I had on hand)
8 oz cream cheese, softened (I use fat free)
8 oz sour cream (I use fat free)
1/2 packet taco seasoning
1 cup shredded cheese (I use 2% milk cheese)
1 cup salsa
1-2 cups chopped lettuce

In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, and taco seasoning.  I used a hand mixer to get the cream cheese smooth.  Set aside.

In a pan (I used an 8x11, just because that's what was clean, you can easily fit this in a 9x13) start with you beans and make a base layer.  I like to use a clear pan so you can see the layers, but that's totally not necessary!

Then layer the cream cheese mixture, and the rest of your ingredients.  Usually I layer in this order:

beans
cream cheese/sour cream mixture
salsa
lettuce
cheese

But, since I was trying to make a football field, I used the lettuce last as "grass" and added extra salsa on the ends for my "end zone".  Then I piped on some extra sour cream to make my "goal lines".  The goal lines came out a little thick...oh well.  Who doesn't love a little extra sour cream!?

Then I decided to cut some olives in order to put a "team" on the field. 
If you really wanted to take this to the next level, you can add some goal posts too.  But I was making this, while also trying to make lunch and feed the kids, so no goal posts this time around.

Serve with tortilla chips or your favorite dippers.  Yum!!
In addition to looking good, it also tasted great too :)

Did you make any festive football food for yesterday's big game?

The Silver Lining

I'm sure you've heard the phrase: "Every cloud has a silver lining". Maybe you haven't heard the phrase worded exactly that way, but something along those lines.

I have heard this phrase many times. I know I've used it myself a few times.

And I couldn't help but think of this phrase after a night we had earlier this week.

Do your kids have a "witching hour"?  Mine do.

And for my son (15 months old), that time usually spans from when we get home from work/babysitter until after dinner. Sometimes it even stretches until I can get him in bed for the night!

Anyway, a few nights ago my son was especially cranky/frustrating and I was trying to quickly clean him up from dinner and just get him in bed. All of a sudden I hear my husband yell...my daughter had thrown up. I came downstairs to see a little bit of food thrown up on the kitchen table and floor. Fun. My first thought was that my daughter gagged on some food and spit it up. As my husband and I are debating this thought, my daughter let us know this was NOT the case and proceeded to release I think just about everything she had eaten all day. In her hair, on her clothes, all of the floor, and the dog. Yes, even the dog was spared no expense in this one. I'm just glad I was standing a few feet away from her at the time!

So, with a screaming son who was already over-tired and needed to go to bed, I helped strip down my daughter to get her in the shower. My son was confined to his crib (and he let me know he was not happy about it) while my husband worked to clean up the war zone in the kitchen.

Once I got my daughter showered and and in pj's, I stuck her in front of a Curious George episode and proceeded to get my son ready for bed. My husband worked to mop the floor then give the dog a bath.

Luckily, my daughter didn't get sick again, but I couldn't help but think of the phrase "Every cloud has a silver lining".

What,  you might ask, would be the silver lining in this situation?

Well, the kitchen floor got mopped and the dog got a bath...both of which hadn't happened in an embarrassingly long time.

So see, every cloud really just might have a silver lining!

　

Thoughtful Thursday:

I'm thinking of trying out a new weekly installment on the blog:


Thoughtful Thursday


Do you ever hear a statement that is truly thought provoking?
Or read a quote that is just  perfect for you or your life at the moment?

That's what these Thoughtful Thursday quotes will be about.

This week's quote is one that quite honestly, I don't remember where I saw it.  But I did, and I love it.
I even wrote it down and have kept it on a little scrap of paper in my purse.  It's one that I want to somehow incorporate into my home, either with vinyl letters on the wall, or on a plaque, or in a picture frame or something.  I'm not quite sure where, but I know I want it somewhere easily visual to remind me every day:

Please excuse the mess...

we are busy making memories.

If we had a dedicated playroom, I know it would be perfect in there!  Since we don't have a dedicated playroom in our small house (our entire house is our playroom!), I have to think of anothe place.  So, whenever I find time (or energy) to complete my dream of showcasing it somewhere in my home, I'll be sure and share it with you!

Jeans Day!

Yay Friday!

Who doesn't love Friday?

For me, it is the end of the work week, and I get to look forward to 2 blissful days with my family (Alright, not always blissful, but I do always prefer being with my family than being at work).

Another great thing about Friday?

I get to wear jeans to work.

　

Why is this so exciting, you might ask?

　

Well, it means that's one less pair of dress pants needed in my weekly rotation (Ok, this really means I don't have to wear the same pair for the third time that week).

If you get the joy of wearing jeans on Fridays, you probably also notice that everyone seems a little more relaxed. Wearing jeans some how lowers people's stress level. It's like magic!

Wearing jeans to work is like a soft intro to the weekend, instead of being hit hard at 5:00. I love it!

I wonder.... if I could wear jeans to work on Monday, would I embrace the start of the work week with a little more enthusiasm?

　

　

　

Just Keep Running

Remember last week when I talked about joining the local rec center in 2011?

As part of my goals for 2011, I was determined to run the Flying Pig Half Marathon.

See, 2 years ago, my husband and I trained for the 2010 Flying Pig Half Marathon, beginning in January of that year. I had run one other half in 2003, and my husband had never one run. This one we'd run together!

Then I got pregnant!

I was still training, just taking it at a little slower pace. I knew I could still complete the race. What an accomplishment it was going to be for me!

Then, 2 weeks before the race, I noticed a lot of blood. A LOT of blood. Luckily, after an emergency trip to my OBGYN, we heard the heartbeat, had an ultrasound, and everything was OK. I had a tear in the placenta, but usually they fix themselves. I was put on orders of no strenuous activity. And that meant no race. To say I was heartbroken was an understatement. For weeks, months, I had trained. But my baby's health was more important. My husband completed his first half marathon, and I couldn't have been more proud of him!

Even though I was elated for him and his victory, I cried as he crossed the finish line. Honestly speaking, they weren't just tears of excitement for him. I couldn't help but feel jealous and selfish, that I should have been out there too. I wanted to be out there running. I actually enjoy running, and I was devestated that I was on the sidelines.

Fast forward to 2011, and I was committed to completing the race. I knew it would be tough. Training for a half is a time commitment. With two small kids in the mix, the time management becomes even more difficult. But I was determined.

To say I was out of shape was an understatement. I knew I needed more time than the standard 12 week training plan. So, I joined the rec center and created my own training plan:

All of my week day runs would be on my lunch hour. My Saturday runs would of course require lots of help from my husband so I could spend 1-2 hours running, plus stretching and showering.

Once I got into 4 and 5 mile runs during the week, that meant longer lunch hours. I couldn't get in that long of a run plus showering in less than an hour.

But my job was flexible, and I could come in a little early, and stay a little later on the days that I needed close to a 90 minute lunch hour.

My cousin had decided to train for the Pig that year as well. We had babies only 1 week apart (how cool is that?!) Unfortunately, we weren't able to do any training runs together, but somehow, we found each other at the starting line the morning of the race! What were the odds? So, we ran together. It was such a blessing to run 13.1 miles with my cousin. We pushed each other and it was amazing to cross the finish line with her.

On May 1, 2011, I could finally say I had run the Flying Pig! Mission Accomplished!

While my husband and I would both like to run the half Pig together this year, it really does take a lot of commitment and time away from family. So, I think we'll stick to the 10k because training time is so much easier to manage. And if neccessary, we can stick the kids in the double jogger and get in a run (I wouldn't want to do that for an 8+ mile training run!)

I wanted to share my training plan with you all, just in case you're motivated to try a half marathon for yourself!

And don't worry about speed. My 2011 half was by far the slowest I had run any race in my entire life. But I finished. And I didn't walk. And I had no injuries.

This year's goals are more focused around weight training. I'm still working on that schedule and I'll try to remember to post it once I feel good about it. It's a work in progress :)

Happy Running!