Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book offers motivation and inspiration.  The stories of some of the runners seem unreal!  There were a couple of parts that bored me a tiny bit but overall it was a good book.  Amazing what our bodies can be trained to do and accomplish.  I think this book will help me to become a better runner.

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He Saved my Day!!

It snowed in Bountiful yesterday a tiny bit, maybe it was kind of a lot bit.  Maybe not a lot bit, I might be exaggerating, but it was very wet and very heavy.  I am trying to be a good neighbor by keeping my section of the sidewalk clear for walkers and such.  I was outside this morning sweating, shoveling, heaving the snow to clear the way and my neighbor came to save the day.

He came from across the street with his snow blower to save my day.  I don't even know his name.  Today he is my favorite neighborhood man.  Thank you very much favorite neighbor man for saving my day!

Spending Freeze... YIKES!

As part of the new year I made a goal to save more money and spend less.  During the weekend away at Solitude to start the new year my friend Aubrey suggested we participate in a spending freeze.  I was nervous at first but love doing it now.  It is so easy to know the limits and truly helps me avoid buying non-essential items.  In the first week I transferred a significant amount of money into savings, a true testament that this is good for me....

 

things i can't buy:

clothing

accessories

jewelry

shoes

purses

magazines

cds

dvds

craft supplies

fast food

home furnishings

"non-essential" fun beauty expenses

frou frou coffee shop coffee, which i'll equate to diet coke.

what i can buy:

a good haircut

makeup

a meal at a lovely restaurant with family and friends

frou frou coffee shop coffee with friends {meaning, no solo drink runs} which, still.... i'll equate to diet coke.

classes {enrichment classes offered at local craft emporiums or community colleges}

gym

gifts for family and friends

charitable contributions to organizations we {i} currently support

added rule- When you're tempted to buy something, go home and transfer equivalent amount of money to savings.

Happy New Year!

I had a really great New Years Weekend.  One of the reasons was an extra day off of work.  I spent the weekend with great friends and lots of good food.  I spent New Year's Eve with close friends playing cards and eating.  We rang in the new year with noise makers, party hats and glow in the dark jewelry.  It was a good time the very conservative Mormon way.  On January 1st some girl friends and I took advantage of the day off of work and went to Solitude to stay in my bosses condo.  It was nice to get out of town but only be 45 minutes away. 

We watched a couple of movies, played some more games, read horoscopes, listed our resolutions, painted our nails, watch more movies, ate good food, ate more good food and headed back home.  It was a great weekend and I am very very excited for a brand new year!

Sherlock Holmes Part II

I saw the second Sherlock Holmes movie with my mom and dad and brother and his family the day after Christmas.  I LOVED the first Sherlock Holmes movie.  I liked this one.  It was a little bit too long for me and the story line wasn't as exciting.  To be completely honest I even fell asleep for a hot second in the theater.  I would still recommend seeing the movie because it is creative and exciting but not something to lose sleep over or rust out and see again soon.

Christmas Time

I absolutely loved Christmas this year.  It was a tiny bit hectic because I didn't have as much time to prepare this year because of school.  It started out with a really great party for work.  We ate at the Market Street Grill and went bowling and had a competition.  It was very fun! 

Then I hosted my family Christmas party again.  We ate Lasagna, rode front runner to see the lights, exchanged gifts and beat a pinata.  Colette and Aaron surprised me with a Tebow Jersey as a gift.  I was so excited.  I felt like Christmas could have ended that minute and I would have been fine.

At the end of the night we read from the Bible the story of Christ's birth.  Then each of us in turn said one thing that makes us grateful.  Many of the kids and the adults said they were grateful for a good family.  I do honestly believe I have one of the best families on the earth.  All of us have flaws.  Some of us have many but I truly know they would do anything for me whenever I need.

The day after the family Christmas party I went to Morgan to stay at my parents.  We had nachos for dinner and watched a movie.  I ate breakfast on Christmas Eve morning and headed to Colette's to have dinner and watch their nativity.  We went up early so I could watch the Denver Broncos.  I wore my new jersey and thought it would be good luck. Tebow played the worst game of his life.  I truly hope the jersey is not to blame because I have no plans to stop wearing it.

I learned that day the importance of service.  My sister Colette was busily making and taking treats to her neighbor who had fallen on hard times, were sad, or alone.  It was amazing to see her follow the spirit and serve so many others. She spend a lot of time with some children of a family who lost their mother to Leukemia.  The five little children have been left to be raised by their grandmother.  I will never forget hearing the five year old boy talk about how he missed his mom.  It made me so so sad for the little boy.  I have so many blessings.  My life has been so easy.  I thank the Lord for all he has given.

Christmas morning was spent with my parents.  The opening of gifts and a yummy breakfast. We then went to Sacrament meeting and home to a yummy dinner.  I love the spirit of the Season.  For the time of giving. I love the happiness in the atmosphere.  I truly truly do love Christmas.

Finals - UGH!

Why didn't someone remind me when I decided to go back to school that I would have to take finals?  I somehow didn't think about that.  I have been working on my finals for the semester all week.  I felt cramped working at my desk at home so I moved to the kitchen table.  Those of you that know me well know that I don't like a messy house.  My kitchen table has looked like this for days and it is driving me crazy.  Two finals done.. two to go!!  I am so excited to be done!!

Crossing the Chasm: Marketing and Selling High-Tech Products to Mainstream Customers by Geoffrey A. Moore

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was assigned to read this book in my Strategic Decision Making class for my MBA.  It is a good book.  I thought I would be bored to tears but I wasn't.  The opening chapter of the book is "If Bill Gates can be a billionare, why can't I?"  Well, why can't I?  This book will help you learn how to strategically market your business and helps you understand why some businesses work and why others do not.  The book actually contains some pretty unique and understandable theories. 



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Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.  Maybe all of the holidays are my favorite but I particularly love this one.  I love making and enjoying amazing food.  This year I made Cranberry Sauce, Lion House Rolls, and Seven Layer Salad. I love spending time with my family.  This year at my sister Colette's house, with my parents, my sister Monica and many of my nieces and nephews. I love wearing stretchy pants, laying on the couch and watching football.  This year we watched Texas vs. Texas A&M, LSU vs. Arkansas and Florida vs. Florida State. And I love thinking and reminiscing about all of the things that make me thankful.  My life, my health, my family, my home, my education, my Charlie, my work, my testimony of a loving Heavenly Father. I hope all of you had a grateful, blessed Thanksgiving Day.  I hope that all of us remaining thankful for all of our bounteous blessings and the gifts we have been given.  HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Breaking Dawn

I saw Breaking Dawn part I with my sister Monica while we were in Portland trying to find a house for her to rent.  It was okay.  It felt more like a cheesy vampire movie to me than the other Twilight movies that I loved. They spent a lot of time setting up the story so, I felt like it was slow in a lot of parts.  I am looking forward to part II.  I have to admit I'm quite excited to see Bella as a vampire.

Who's Counting??

I recently started working on my master's degree.  I wasn't sure what to expect.  I thought it would take some extra time and was prepared to spend a decent amount of time studying.  Ya, well, I spend a lot of time studying.  More than I expected.  Which, is okay because I am learning and want to push myself to do good.  The bad thing about all the studying is that my social life is suffering.  A friend called me on a Friday night to see if I wanted to go to a movie.  I love going to movies and a few months ago I would have said, yes, absolutely but this time I said, "Um, call me again in 19 months and we'll be friends and go to a movie?"  He laughed in my face and said, "Are you serious?" I said, "Ya, I am. Sorry, I have so much to do for school."  In lieu of this story, I decided to make a paper chain to count down when I finish my degree.  My darling neices colored all the papers for me.  Eighteen of them, one for each month until I finish.  But, who's counting???

Before and After

Before

 After

I had been growing out my hair for over a year.  A few months ago I decided to cut it.  I generally have short hair so I didn't think it would be a big deal and was looking forward to a change.  I miss having longer hair.  So, it's back to growing it out again...