I am a Runner.

I am a Runner. Who would have ever thought it? If you knew me growing up, you would never expect that I like to run...

I ran the 4 x 200 relay in middle school. We were not necessarily good. I've never been a long distance runner either. However, in early 2013, I started a couch to 5K program and I was hooked. Embarrassingly, after I had been running for over a year, I decided to get fit for some running shoes at the Manhattan Running company. I had been running in $40 Nikes from Pennys! Yikes! That just proves that I'm cheap and that running and working out like that was not what I had typically done up to that point!

One of my favorite moments was when I was shopping for shoes, I told the lady in the store that I am kinda running on a regular basis. I'm not necessarily a runner but I do run about betweeen 1-3 miles about 3 times a week. She looked at me and said, "Honey, you are a runner. If you run that much a week, you are a runner." That moment really blew me away. I am a runner. I am a runner!

Since that moment, I've since ran several more 5Ks. I've ran in every city I have traveled. Running outside in a new and different city is such an awesome experience... a little frightening sometimes, but awesome. Currently, I'm training for a half marathon. Crazy. Today was my longest run... 7 miles... I ran for over an hour! I was super proud of myself! I walked in the door and told JM - I made it! :) He was proud but not quite as excited as me.

Right before I started off on my run tonight. Isn't my KSU headband cute? 

One thing that makes the running bearable is my playlist. I have the iTunes app on my phone and it is the best money spent each month. I've decided to share my prized playlist below. And btw - JM listens to country when he runs - who does that?!?

I run this playlist on Shuffle

• Girlfriend - Avril Lavigne
• I'm not a huge Avril Lavigne fan, but this is a quick, fun song. 
• I Like That - Richard Vission & Static Revenger feat. Luciana 
• Hum... I actually don't love this song either. But - I think So You Think You Can Dance did a routine to this a few seasons ago. It keeps me going. Nevermind. I just YouTubed the dance and its clearly not the same song!
• Work B**ch - Britney Spears
• This song always seems to pop up when I'm wanting to slow down or quit. But Britney telling me I have to work to get there... apparently that works. 
• Titanium - David Guetta feat. Sia
• Roar - Katy Perry
• I don't love Katy Perry. It's a good run. Added bonus... David loves this song so I run through it thinking of him singing to it! 
• Fireball - Pitball
• Oh man. I love this song. It makes me want to Salsa. And I may have dancing arms a bit when in comes on. 
• Lose Yourself - Eminem
• I have a secret. Eminem is one of my guilty pleasures. 
• Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes
• This makes me think of my Jodi who I taught in dance.
• Stand Up (For the Champions) - Right Said Fred
• So many things to say about this song. I love the 2003 K-State Football video to this song. It is awesome. I can't find it on YouTube... what's up with that? When I added this song to my playlist I couldn't believe Right Said Fred sings it...Doesn't he sing I'm Too Sexy? 
• WTF (Where They From) - Missy Elliott
• My Missy. Love me some Missy Elliott. 
• Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars
• I want to see Bruno Mars in concert. I hear he puts on a great show!
• Wake Me Up - Avicii
• A little slow... a balance song. 
• Come Get It Bae - Pharrell Williams
• This is another one of those "kick in the butt songs." It also used to be my ringtone. :)
• Good for You - Selena Gomez
• I like this song. My friend doesn't like this song because it paints a picture of making yourself look good specifically for a guy. I totally get what she's saying. When this song comes on I always feel a little guilty. I tell myself... looking good for me, looking good for me. :) 
• Love You Like a Love Song - Selena Gomez
• Same Old Love - Selena Gomez
• Have you caught on that I love Selena Gomez. 
• Glam - Christina Aguilera
• And my girl Christina. 
• Wild Wild West - Escape Club
• Much better than the other Wild Wild West
• Talk Dirty - Jason Derulo
• Want to see him in concert! NOW! 
• Wiggle - Jason Derulo feat. Snoop Dawg
• This song wants me to run of my big fat butt. 
• Want to Want Me - Jason Derulo
• Have you seen the Jason Derulo and Luke Bryan sing off of this? HOT!
• Lips Are Movin - Meghan Trainor
• Better When I'm Dancing - Meghan Trainor
• Probably my favorite song of 2015. LOVE! It's everything better when you are dancing? I may have some dancing arms during this one as well. 
• Cake by the Ocean - DNCE
• This is my Dilly's favorite song. 
• Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia) - Us3
• I swear this was a opening number song from when I was younger. 
• Remind Me Who I Am - Jason Gray
• I love an eclectic range on music.  
• Boom Boom Pow - Black Eyed Peas
• Can't Hold Us - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
• Another kick in the butt song. 
• Work It - Missy Elliott

You are welcome. 

Marital bliss.We took off last Friday and had a great jog on the Konza Trail in MHK. It was a fun time together. 

Nine & Ten

#9 Music

Music is a wonderful thing. A simple song can put you back a decade to a specific place in time and evoke a feeling that you had at that time. It can make you feel sad, happy, giddy, compassionate and a slew of other feelings. It is a great thing. I tried to make a list of my absolute favorite songs of all time but it was a complete fail. So instead... I'm going to do that thing when you are stumped in creative writing class where whatever idea comes to your head you write down. So my "brain dump" of favorite songs are below... in no apparent order.

1. Love Shack by B52s
2. ALMOST any song by George Strait
3. Old Alan Jackson - definitely not the new
4. KISS by Prince
5. Rollin with the Flow - Mark Chestnutt
6. We Believe in God - Amy Grant
7. The River by Garth Brooks
8. Old Reba
9. Most anything by The Judd's
10. Journey songs - (Faithfully, Don't Stop Believing)

If you notice a trend... I tend to like 80's and 90's and a lot of old country. I know... kinda uncool. :)

#10 Friends

I'm a lucky girl. I had the chance to hang out with two of my very best girl friends on Friday. Molly and Rachel. I'm always surprised and glad that we can spend the day or evening together and not do a lot but still be so completely happy to have the time together.

I met my sister in Lawrence on Friday and took her to lunch, then met up with Rachel, who was having lunch with her brother. Rachel and I walked down Mass Street for about 20 minutes then headed to Kansas City to meet up with Molly. When we got there, we played with her almost 6 month old, Olivia and discussed what we were going to to that evening. We ended up wandering the Plaza for a bit, grabbing dinner at BRGR (which was amazing if you are ever around Prairie Village), and watching a movie. We were in bed by midnight. It was perfect. There is something to be said about being able to say and do whatever you want around the people who you love the most. It was a great night. Too bad it won't happen again for another couple of months!