Memorial Day Weekend

This past weekend was spent in Morehead City, NC relaxing with family and friends! It was a much needed mini-vacation for me. I feel like school ended and I just went straight into summer research without missing a beat. So this past weekend I didn't take any work home with me, I started reading a new book on the beach (one of my all time favorite thigs to do) and just relaxed!

This weekend made me realize...scratch that...it further reminded me how much I miss the coast. I never thought I would truly miss a place as much as I have missed the ocean until I moved from it! Being in Durham is going to be a good thing though! We're going to leave this place better than when we came and I can live with that.

This past weekend was the first time I have taken Josh out to Shackleford Banks! We had a great time. There are a bunch of wild ponies that run around on the island and Josh went with me while I tried to sneak up on them and take pictures!

All in all the weekend was filled with cold beer, warm sand, good company and a lot of grilling out. To me life does not get much better! We got to see from old high school friends of mine, which was amazing to say the least. I love how years can pass but some things just don't change. We all live so far apart now but its comforting knowing you just fall back into a nice groove with people even though time just keeps on passing you by! I also got to see my cousins...and when I saw that I know some people visual one or two people around the same age as you are that don't have a ton in common but are polite and find things to talk about. Well this is definition does not apply to my cousins! They are amazing and constantly dance on the line between being humorous or offensive, there is never a dull moment with any of them and I miss them so much!

Now the countdown begins to July 4th weekend when we get to go back for my birthday! I have to mention that I loved seeing my mom! We got sarongs together one night and the picture below is of us in them at the beach! I miss her already!

White Lake Half Ironman...or 70.3 mile heatfest!

So this weekend I completed my first triathlon! I did the White Lake Half-Ironman! It consists of 1.2 miles swim, 56 miles bike and 13.1 mile run! I know what you're thinking...Josh and I are insane. And I think you're right...you kinda have to be off your rockers a little to volunteer to do something like that!

I have to say that I had a blast! My goal was to finish with a smile on my face and not throwing up! Which I am proud to say I did! The only thing that was really brutal was the heat...it was daunting actually! I think the most rewarding thing from doing a race like this is the victory that comes from the mental battle that is raging on in your mind. There were a couple moments where I just wanted to stop...hell even a few moments when I didn't want to start. But somehow you do...you talk yourself through it and you make it through!

The highlight of the race for me was being able to catch up with my friend Nicole and Sami on the run! The run was a nice 95 degrees with a 15 mph headwind at some points and finding running buddies was a gift sent from God! Sami got me home on the last stretch and I couldn't have done it without her! It was awesome to finish my first Half-IM with a friend like that!

Josh got 3rd in his new age group which is awesome! I am so proud of him! I finished in 6 hours and 45 minutes and was just stoked as all hell to cross that finish line! I have to say that now I know what all the hype this and why Josh loves this sport so much! It was a great race! The people were amazing! I have never felt so much support from fellow races before! Now I'm just left with the nagging thought of...which race to register for next!

Elizabeth Bridal Shower!

So my best friend Elizabeth is getting married! It stills blows my mind how surreal it feels sometimes! We met each other in 6th grade...I was a huge tomboy and believed that Umbro shorts were amazing and I didn't know a soul! Elizabeth did not share my belief of umbro shorts but that did not stop us from being friends! And now we're growing up...the days of umbro shorts, maurices hair clips, and owning a flower shop are behind us but our friendship is still just as strong! And now she is getting married! We had her bridal shower this past weekend and here are some of the shots! The amazing spread of food supplied by all of her family and friends!

Here is the awesome cake that was made for her with cream cheese frosting!

Here is Elizabeth, her mom and two sisters! Such pretty ladies!

And here we are! 14 years later...not quite the umbro shorts and perms that we started in during our younger days! I love you and am so happy for you! You and Matt are going to have an amazing life ahead of you!

Mel & Joe Live Happily Ever After!

So this past weekend our dear friends Mel & Joe got married! It was such an amazing weekend! Here are some of the highlights from a weekend that was just too good for words! Enjoy!

The excited & loving atmosphere, combined with amazing food and great company set the tone for the entire weekend! Here is great shot taken by Mels photographers that really shows you how much fun we had!

I think that the highlight of the entire evening was the laughter...it was contagious! The kind of laughter and good times that almost make you cry! The company was just amazing!

The evening continued on after the rehearsal dinner! We ended up heading out for dancing and karaoke (even though we never went to a karaoke bar...one of the best renditions of Piano Man that I have heard to this day!!!).

Craig Sandwich...enough said! :)

Mel's cousin Heather came into town from China and her best friend flew in from California! Both of these girls are a great time! They are one of those people who you could have met once but makes you feel like you have known her for years!


Here are some shots of the bride and all of her bridesmaids!

The lovely Mel! Isn't she a beautiful bride?! Simply glamorous!

I couldn't be happier for Mel & Joe!! You two are going to have so many amazing years ahead of you! I cannot wait to see whats in store! čestitke!!! We love you both!

Great Dismal Swamp Stomp

So today Josh and I ran the Great Dismal Swamp Half Marathon! We had a great time!

We got up to Virginia and spent the night with my Dad in Bowers Hill! The evening was spent watching movies and eating pizza! Well Josh watched the Dark Knight and I was a nervous wreck and walked around the house doing random things!

Josh got 1st in his age group and I placed 2nd in mine! I wanted to do better, but there will be other races! Thats looking at the silver lining I suppose! I tried every visual I could think of at the end to make me run faster (like someone chasing me with a stick) but I just couldn't make my legs run any quicker!

We waited for about two hours for the awards ceremony to start, but finally got tired of the rain! We were freezing too! And I told the race director that we would miss out flight if we didn't leave so they gave us our awards early! We got hand crafted herrings and gave them to our parents! Over all it was a good day! We got to see Rachel and Brian and their beautiful son Davis! That was by far the highlight of the entire trip! So happy for them! Now all thats left is to figure out what races are next! We both have White Lake Half Ironman in a few weeks! Wish us luck!

Tarheel 10 Miler

Last weekend my good friends Sami came up to visit and we ran the Tarheel 10 Miler, well she ran the 10 Miler and I ran the 4 Miler! I miss training and running with Sami! It was great having her up here last weekend!

Other than running, we spent the weekend riding in Dairyland, eating ice cream on a porch in rocking chairs, grilling out, and catching up.

We got a visit from the Easter Bunny & Duke won the NCAA

This past weekend Josh and I spent Easter in Virginia. What is ever so nice about Virginia is that my Dad and all of Josh's family live in the same town! We get to see everyone! And when I say nice I actually mean chaotic, fun, loud, busy...an overall good time in my book! One of my favorite things that we did this weekend that I haven't done in years was dye eggs! I had forgotten how much fun that was! I got all excited because I remember that if you put the red and blue together you can make purple eggs! I'm telling you people that it is the little things that make life worth while! I wanted to have a kid of my own right then just so I can have an excuse to dye eggs next year...and then I had a realization that I would just go back to Virginia and dye eggs again with Jenn and Lisa's kids because I am not ready for my own babies yet!

Josh's sister Jenn and I had a great, but exceptionally hot, 12 mile run this weekend too! Don't know what I would do without her as a running buddy sometimes because if I would have been by myself I would have walked my happy ass back to the house! It was soooo hot! My half-marathon is in 2 weeks! The Sunday of easter was spent in church, where I colored and ate banana and dried fruit with my 2 year of niece and nephews! We all went back to the house and had Pollards Chicken (amazing fried chicken from Va Beach!) and enjoyed each others company with the help of squirt guns!

I always wish we had more time to spend with everyone! If I had it my way everyone I know and love would live an hour away! That way I could get to them anytime! This weekend seemed to pass by in a flash! My Dad always say's don't blink, but thats a lot easier said than done! Oh and before I go I cannot forget to mention the amazing basketball this weekend! Go Duke! Butler played amazing and the game was phenomenal! I am so proud of both of the teams, but God it does feel good to be a Duke fan today!