off to a bad start~

It's possible. Especially considering the tragedies that have already occurred this year.

1. Gwen came up to me crying January 1, asking me to pull a sliver out of her finger. No problem. I do have a couple of super human traits, and my eyesight happens to be one of them. I can read street signs way before anybody else in the car can! I pride myself on my 20/10 vision (I can see at 20 feet what "normal" people see at 10 feet). So then why in the world couldn't I get my eyes to focus on the itty bitty little sliver in Gwen's finger?!?!?! Face it Kristin, your vision is not what it used to be. (my other super human trait is that I have incredible sense of smell. Unfortunately, this is often to my own demise. Breath, B.O., stinky diaper, cup of old chocolate milk in your kid's room, you name it, I smell it so strong!! I'd never want to be married to someone with a good sniffer. I'm sorry Ryan. Last night Ryan took out the pipes under the kitchen sink so we could clean them out since the drain was so slow. I literally puked while trying to clean out the pipes. So Ryan had to take over. Awful I tell you.)

2. This morning I found my FIRST GRAY HAIR!!!!!!! Seriously, did this have to happen two days after I came to grips with my eyes? I'm aging faster than a banana. Why did I think it wouldn't happen to me? I don't know, but it's not cool. Not cool.

NWM 2011

That's Nike Women's Marathon for the laypeople. ;)

Oh man, this race is glorious!

Running through San Francisco, with tons of other WOmen, great race support, fun expo, and the finisher's medal is a TIFFANY'S NECKLACE!!

And of course, the wall of runners. Right there is my little "Kristin McPhie" on the wall of Nike Town!

And so the night before the race. I always lay out what I'm going to wear the next day, and I wasn't sure what I'd wear. That meant a fashion show to get other opinions to help me choose. We settled on a fluorescent yellow shirt, black running skirt and hot pink compression socks for the purpose of me standing out. That way when my awesome cheering squad is waiting for me to run by, I'll be easy to spot. I'd totally stand out from the masses of other runners, right?

Well how about this?

I get to the race, and call my friend Jannah so we could meet up, and she says, "I'm in front of Swarvoski wearing a fluorescent yellow shirt, black running skirt and hot pink knee highs." Seriously?! The only other runner I know out of the ~23,000 runners is wearing the EXACT same outfit as me? So much for thinking that my outfit would be unique.

See, just look at this chaos!

And slowly herding our way to the start. I had lost Jannah by now. I crossed the start approximately 20 minutes after the start. Unfortunately, that meant that I was far enough back to be stuck amongst slower runners/walkers that I had to struggle to fight my way through. This really slowed my first two miles.

And check out my cool little Buster Brown shortly after the start.

I love this because I always wonder what they're doing while I'm running.

Without having to go into too many details, let's just say around mile four I started having some serious tummy issues that had me squatting behind a tree and thankful I had kleenex in my fanny pack. Seriously??? After my slow start, I was hoping to make up for loss time and this wasn't helping. Add in a couple more potty breaks over the next ten miles, and I gave up all hopes of having a decent time.

That is until I got a text from Ryan letting me know that him and the kids were waiting for me in the big park that we run through. I was so excited to see them, I picked up my pace. I was feeling better and finally felt like I could move! It helped that all the half-marathon runners split off from us in the park. Finally, just before mile 16, I got to see my cute kids screaming and shaking cow bells.

Here I am, mile 16. So happy, feeling good.

That good feeling didn't last long. 17-18 didn't feel so hot, but from 19 on, I felt much better. In fact the best I've felt at the end of any marathon! This was shocking to me since my training was poor. My highest mileage in my training was 17 miles, and I only had a few long runs in preparation. So I knew that my legs weren't prepared to keep running on tired legs. But I really think that my slow start helped to save my legs at the end, and for that I was grateful! I never felt like I hit a wall, so while my pace was slower, it wasn't nearly as slow as I've typically been the last few miles of a marathon.

My awesome family/cheerleaders.

(and Tara behind the camera)

I apologize for the swears on my blog.

Clearly I ran under the yellow side. ;)

Passing the fam around mile 26, heading towards the finish. Oh, that glorious finish line!!

And this is what awaits you at the finish.

Firemen dressed in tuxedos to give you a Tiffany's necklace.

Silly I know, but is this a girls race or what?!

Finally finished.

4:17:24

New PR.

Almost 11 minutes of it was time spent "not running", but I'll take the PR nonetheless!

Thank you to my amazing family for coming into the city to battle the crowds and sit around and wait to cheer me on.

I felt so loved!

ughh

This morning I was in a hurry to get to school. So for breakfast I just threw some strawberries and raspberries in a ziploc and figured I'd eat them while studying. Plan was working out great until I scooted away from my desk and saw a smashed raspberry on the table. I thought "wow, that's close!" Then looked down at my shirt and realized it was closer than I thought.

Poopy!!!!

Do you think anyone will notice?

Where is a Tide wipe when I need one?!

Hopefully it will stay cool enough that I can just zip up my hoodie and wear it all day.

you may be disappointed in me

when you learn that I'm prejudiced.

I am. I'm sorry about that. But today on my way to school, I saw this guy, and I totally judged him without even knowing him.

But I saw his "Pink Cabaret" hat and the little silver testicles hanging from the back of his motorcycle, and I decided this is not a gentlemen I'd want to invite over to play Yatzee with my family.

I'll bet he has some good qualities, but he's not advertising them as well as he is his less than admirable qualities.

General Conference Weekend

Oh, how I LOVE General Conference weekend. It's a time to stay home and listen to inspired words. I always recommit to trying harder to be a better wife, mother, member of the community, and to try to live a life of service and charity.

It's also nice because we don't have to go to church on Sunday. Not that I don't like going to church, but I can do so much while watching/listening to conference...in my pajamas! For instance I cleaned off my atrocious desk. Really, my desk was so bad from late nights studying and snacking, the kids playing on my computer, sewing scraps, coloring, cords, etc.

So once it was cleared off, I was able to see my sewing machine and have a work space. So I attacked my mending pile, and I was a mending machine! I took care of three pairs of pants, a pair of shorts, and a race shirt.

Exhibit A: Drake's pants. The kids school dress code forbids pants with holes or tears. Too bad Drake has a special talent for putting holes in his knees. There were actually three pairs of pants that needed knee patches, but they had sat there for so long that two of them didn't even fit anymore! Well since these were some of Drakes favorites, I put a nice pirate canon patch on his knee. He loves it!

Then I did a pair of pants of mine and Ryan's.

Exhibit B: Some of my favorite denim knee length shorts. These were in high rotation until Ryan and I decided to go on a double date with Jake and Kaylani. They're so wild, they got us on a mechanical bull that bucked so hard, and I squeezed so tight that I ripped my shorts! Um how long ago was that?? I don't even remember. But now I have another pair of shorts!

Exhibit C: My San Diego Marathon tech-t. It really bugs me when you get your race shirt (especially for a marathon! come on, I worked hard for this shirt!) and you ordered a small, and sure the tag says small, but it's HUGE. So I dissemble the shirt and put it back together again in my size. Now I have a work out shirt that I'm not swimming in.

Also, do you see that back on the counter there? I also made a healthy pumpkin bread today too! And I'll even share my recipe:

PUMPKIN BREAD that's not terrible for you:

1 C Wheat flour

1 t Baking Powder

1/2 t Baking Soda

1/2 t Salt

1 t Cinnamon

1/2 t of each: Ginger, Nutmeg, Ground Cloves

1 1/4 C Pumpkin Puree

1/2 C Raw Sugar

1/2 C Brown Sugar

1/2 C Water

1 C Apple Sauce

1 Egg

2 Egg Whites

1/2 - 1 C Chopped Pecans (pronounced pee-cans thankyouverymuch)

You know how it goes from there, mix your wets in a bowl and your dries in a bowl and then stir together. Throw in a long bread pan and bake at 350º for about 1 hour, 15 min.

Okay, now back to studying. I have a Family Law mid-term this week. :( Oh well, at least next week is October break! San Francisco here we come!

question

Have you ever come home from school, lost total control of yourself, and ate three delicious pumpkin cupcakes?

No?

Me neither.

wooly braid

Running in the summer in Arizona is hard. More than that. It's down right miserable! At least for me. Running in the heat does something to me (pounding headache/puke) that can only be undone by a cool shower and a good nap, and on days like today, 2 Excedrin Migraine. This morning we set out at 5 am and 85º. The run was gorgeous (Paradise Valley) and I had good company. I also took precautions to make the run the best I could - good music, water, skittles, hat, etc. One thing I also have to do, is put my hair in a bun or a braid. This is to prevent my hair from getting totally knotted up from the constant side to side motion. Today it was the ponytail through the back of the hat and braided.

So this run got hot! Over 90º by time we finished, but the sun on me just KILLS me! I try to keep cool by squirting some of my rationed water over my head, and of course I run through every lawn I see with sprinklers going. At about mile 7 I was out of water, but saw a house with a coiled hose out front. I ran over, turned it on filled up my water bottles and took a full on shower in this front yard, just trying to cool my body off. Holy cow it felt good! So then I was drenched, and finished out my run.

Once we finished, my friend Chrissie asked me, "how did you fix your hair like that?" Like what? A braid? Easy. Until I felt it. The water logged hair and the side to side swishing did a number on my braid! It full on shrunk up! (what is my hair, wool?!) The braid was probably was at least three inches shorter than it started out, just fro'd out!

When I got home and took off my hat, I realized something really wierd about it. My hair segregated! All the dark hair puffed out on top of the braid, and all the bleached hair puffed out on the bottom part of the braid. How weird is that???
It took me almost twenty minutes and half a bottle of conditioner to comb through that hair.

bday wish list

I'm turning 30. That's right, the big three oh. I've heard it's all down hill from there, but I refuse to let that be true (that'd be really sad if it were true). I mean come on! Thirty's nothing. I'm still young.... right????? (crickets chirping) Whatev. I have two little ones, they keep me young. I'm in college, that makes me feel young. (Actually it makes me realize how OLD I am compared to the young partying college crowd) Okay, anyways thirty is some sort of milestone right?? And while I had planned to be on a cruise or something like that when I hit it, that's not how it's going to work out. You see Ryan is currently studying for the bar. That means all work, no play. Oh well, hopefully we'll get to celebrate when the bar is over at the end of July.

So for the KRISTIN'S BIRTHDAY WISHLIST 2011:

1. Yellow is my favorite color.

Ever.

It always has been too. Even when I was little and yellow was not cool. And when kids would ask me what my favorite color was, I'd reply yellow, and then they'd say, "ewww, yellow is the color of pee!" I still loved it then! Well look at this darling Williams Sonoma tablecloth.

That'd be perfect on my kitchen table with my tacky United States place mats on top!

(only at dinner time, besides, Ryan and I know our states like that!)

2. Beach Cruiser.

I had a super cute one with that Ryan got me for mother's day five years ago! And guess what? This is awful, you might not want to read.... it got stolen along with my two seater bike trailer for the kids.... right off my back porch!!! I shed a tear or two, and now I can't help but take an extra close look at every Phat Customs pink beach cruiser I see. It had three gears and a cute white basket, and oh I loved it!! So I'd love to have another. Because when the kids want to go out and ride bikes, I feel impractical jumping onto my road bike that doesn't even have pedals! Plus I take one pedal stroke and I'm to the next house while Drake's still spinning away on his bike. So a cruiser would be ideal for those family bike rides. Hopefully this curiser will be a cute color (seafoam green, robin egg blue, or yellow, etc.), have more than one gear, and have a bell! This one (I'm sorry the pic is tiny) is from Wal Mart! And look at the cool seat thing on the front. Can you just imagine Gwen sitting on the front holding on for dear life?

3. This Martha Stewart Cake Plate.

I LOVE that it's square and black and white. I do enjoy collecting cake stands. They make me happy. Even if not yellow. :)

4. Yellow pumps.

These would be my choice, but at $135, the next are more likely

These babies will only run you $30 at Charlotte Russe.

5. Marc Jacobs Lola.

This is my new favorite perfume. I got a sample a while ago that I have been rationing! I'm almost out, so either I need some more samples ;) or for my sweetie to get me this perfume. Isn't the bottle cute?

6. A MODEST tankini, like this one from Lime Ricki.

My tankini's I think I've got from before I was married! The one I wear the most has elastic rotting in it. I like this one because it doesn't have a plunging neckline and the top is long. Plus the hot green ruffle at the bottom is rad.

7. This Coach bag is from the new KRISTIN line!

I'm dead serious. The line is Kristin. Not Kristen. It's meant to be. I think it even said 30th Anniversary Kristin bags. Okay it didn't, but it might as well have. I mean come on! I turn 30 the same season as the Kristin Coach line?? MFEO.

8. Sport sunglasses.

Okay, this one is a legitimate need. If you haven't noticed from some of my race pictures, I run and ride in big ol' cheap sunglasses. They're more like a windshield. That's all good and fine, until I tried on some nice athletic sunglasses. Oh man, now I know what I'm missing! And how much easier my activities would be with a nice pair of Oakleys instead of some Target frames. (no offense Target, I still love you!!!) They are so stinkin' light, with arms that just hold your head without SQUEEZING it. No more having to keep pushing heavy sunglasses up my sweaty nose, or worse when I just have to resort to mouth breathing because my classes have slid down and just pinched my nose closed.

So I really like these - the Necessity. They're a little more stylie than the next ones...

but these ones, the Forsake, are supposed to be the ULTIMATE sport glasses for women. They're also really cute for sport glasses. (I'm not an idiot, I know sport glasses for women are usually hideous)

Okay, there you have it. My dream list for my thirtieth.

16 more days of life in my twenties.

10 things

My friend Monica has a darling blog, and she did this fun 10 things post and tagged me. So let's be honest, who doesn't like talking about things that you like? And in coming up with my 10 things, I can't help but notice, that most of my favorite things have to do with food! But that's me, my life just about revolves around food.

#1. Newton running shoes. I love these! Land, lever, lift. These are geared for mid to forefoot running, and are made to not tire your legs so quickly, but work with your stride to conserve energy. They are extremely light, and come in amazing colors!!

#2. I'm a creature of habit. Really.
If I could eat pancakes every morning I would!! Those are my fav, but since they are calorie ridden, I chose a healthier option. So I have two, depending on summer/winter. During the months that strawberries are in season, I have yogurt, berries and granola...every morning! And then during the winter, I have Basha's cottage cheese (because it really is the BEST!) with a fresh orange peeled and cut over the cottage cheese. Oh, so yummy! I'm salivating as I type this. And somehow I don't get tired of these. I eat one of those every morning, and love it!

#3. Cute socks.

I don't know where this came from, but I have some belief that if I'm going to be wearing pants, I have to have cute socks on underneath. LIke if somebody got a peek of my socks, it'd be a treat, not just boring white socks. So I reserve white socks for the gym, and the rest of my sock drawer is full of fun patterns.

#4. Frozen yogurt. Oh dear, I have a problem. A serious problem.
I really have frozen yogurt almost everyday! Sometimes more than once a day. I know where just about all the frozen yogurt stores are, and can make any trip convenient. Among my favorite flavors - NY Cheesecake from Yodipity, Coconut from Yogurtland, White Chocolate Mousse from Mojo's, Tart Mango from Goldenspoon, and Butterbrickle from Mesa FroYo.

#5. Watermelon. Holy smokes, the summer is one of the best times of year, because of this.

Once I start eating watermelon, it's difficult to stop. In fact one time in college (not band camp) I challenged this guy I was dating to watermelon eating contest. This guy outweighed me by a good 70 pounds, but that couldn't help him, I totally won! I eat until the skin on my stomach is stretched and I feel like I'm gonna die, but it's so good I just keep going!

#6. Pantries and staples.
I lust after a nice pantry. This one is just a dream. But even a fancy, huge pantry wouldn't quell my anxiety for not having kitchen staples in it. I'm uneasy if I'm low on butter, sugar, flour, etc. Basically I just need to know that should I need to bake anything, I've got it on hand.

#7. Knife throwing.
I don't know why, or where this came from, but I have always had a fantasy that I'm a knife thrower. I want to take knife throwing classes so bad, and just think it is a vital skill to have. If an intruder came in my house, and I don't have a gun, I can still injure him from afar by landing a knife in his shoulder. Oh just think of all the possibilities!!

#8. Candy. Yes, another addiction.
mmmmmm! Red vines, skittles, cinnamon discs, Sour Patch Kids, Swedish Fish, Tootsie Rolls, Cinnamon Bears, Gobstoppers, etc. I have a candy habit. I carry it with me just about all the time. I have stashes through out my house. And I have the cavities to prove it. Despite my next thing...

#9. Dental floss.
I have to carry dental floss with me, because I have to floss many times through out the day. The more I floss, the more I feel like I have to floss. One of the worst feelings is needing to floss and not having any! Try not to think about it, you'll start to get the urgent I need to floss feeling.

#10. I love Tina Fey.
I want to be her! She is so witty and funny, I love her responses to everything! I also love just about every movie/skit she's in. Mean Girls, Babymama, 30 Rock. She's a genius!!

And there you have it.

new me?

This morning I took Drake to school and went to give his lunch to his teacher while he was washing his hands. She took a step back and then laughed and said, "Oh, you look so different today, it took me a while!" Umm, weird. But okay.

Next I hauled buns to make it to institute on time. I didn't, I was late. I quietly walked in and took an empty seat right in the middle of the class. My teacher then walked over to me to shake my hand and says, "tell me your name", I just figured head injury (my teacher was in a motorcycle accident years ago and had a significant head injury that affects his short term memory, and so that's often his excuse). Then a couple of minutes later, while he was teaching he says, "oh KRISTIN!!! I'm so sorry! Of course it's you, but you just look SO different! What's different about you?!" Umm, I don't know? Unfortunately I can't answer him by saying, "oh, I lost ten pounds!" or "botox!!". But honestly, why aren't people I see ALLTHETIME recognizing me today? Because I took a shower? (oh wait, I didn't!) I curled my hair? I lightened my hair like a month ago? Really, what's different about me today?

Okay, that one I have crazy eyes. If I walked around like that I'd understand.

Try again, dork in the library taking a picture of herself:

Does this look different than normal?

I'm so retro

I've aged myself. Yesterday I was talking to a friend at school about how I'd do my reading while watching "Must See TV". As the words were coming out of my mouth, I realized I hadn't heard it called that in a long time. I remember being in highschool and every Thursday night we'd go to Jasmyn's house for must see tv. You know, Friends, Seinfeld, Will and Grace, all those good shows. I could tell that he hadn't heard of NBC's Thursday night shows called Must See TV. Wow, didn't realize things have changed so much.

Also, tomorrow Ryan and I are doing the Retro Run, where you're supposed to dress retro. Okay, does that mean 'fros, bell bottoms, tie dye and peace signs?? No! They specified 80s! The 80's are retro now!

I have to face it, I'm getting old. The other day I heard a friend had to explain to her daughter what camera film is. Weird.

While I'm on a tangent, I'll take this time to inform those who might not know, when you say "et cetera" (etc.) the T is before the C! I'm currently in a training and the trainer keeps saying "excetera", and it's not giving her much credibility. Okay, now I'm going to start paying attention to her.