Running thru Life... The Pet Corrector

For any one who knows our dog Clemson, 

he has a voice.  

One I am working very hard to tame....

How you might ask...

With the help of the Pet Corrector

 Can be found on the internet or at Willy Wags which I got a 20% on Black Friday so I picked up some other things I needed.  

This is a pressurize can that lets out a weird noise that apparently dogs do not like.  

I have been using it for barking and his jumping and it seems to help a lot.  

We tried the squirt bottle but he loves water so he thought it was  a game.  

Also tried the can with money in it but again he wanted to eat the can. 

Seriously... seriously!

Running thru life.... A Happy Thought!

So while walking thru Lowes to pick up a couple things- like a copy of our house key =0)

Joe  found something that totally made me laugh. 

So I thought I would share with you.

 I totally love my husband as he can make me laugh!

Happy Late Thanksgiving and
Merry Christmas!!!

Running thru life..... Long Beach for my 30?

As a midwife I normally get paid to go to one conference a year. 

It is one of the only perks I get!

The first year I was at my job I went to an Ultrasound Conference in Philly, followed by the ACNM (American College of Nurse Midwives) Conference in DC, this year I decided to bypass a conference because of work reasons. 

ACNM has offically announced LONG BEACH, CA from June 2 to June 7th 2012!

The really cool thing about this is I will turn 30 on June 7th!

So I totally could make a fun trip out of this considering my airfare, hotel room, and most of my food will be covered.  My husband has stated he could fly out as well as my best friend. 

Long Beach for my 30th.......

I think it just might happen!

Running thru life.... A schedule

Now that I am in training mode, I need a schedule to help keep myself on tract. 

I looked at a couple of different schedule and decided to go with one from

MarathonRookie.com

I like how it was broked down in to 16 weeks and had days of rest build into the schedule- since I am gone more than 13 hours a day at least 4 days a week it gives me days off after work. 

What training schedule do you like? 

Running thru life.... Panic

It hit me today- in less than 4 months I will be running a Marathon!
A Marathon!
Am I crazy? 
Seriously three years ago I could not even run a mile and
now I am going to put my body and my mind thru a marathon!

Seriously!!!

While my family and my hubby have full confidence I will finish-
I am terrified! 
What if I don't finish? 
What if I fail? 

I think I just need to tell myself I will finish which is what I have going thru my head every time I hit the treadmill or run outside lately. 
I will finish.
It may not be easy, but I will finish.

Postive mojo is much better than negative mojo... right!

I will finish.....
Off to run!

Running thru life.... IT IS COMING

November has hit-

The holiday are upon us. 

This means besides the normal Christmas shopping a couple things must take place. 

1) Annual trip to Trader Joe's

Normally in November I make a run to Trader Joe's to stock up on some extra wine for parties we are invited to or gifts.  I like Trader Joe's because they have a decent selection. 

So I went last week during my day off and stocked up our wine cellar!

2) Annual Clemson/Univ of SC Game party at our house!!!

This is a tradition we are starting this year primarily because this one of the first Thanksgiving Weekends that we will be home and are not crazy busy. 

 I actually have a couple things to do to get ready for this but that will come later. 

3) Order Christmas Cards

I like ordering our Christmas cards in early November which means we received them by mid Nov and have them out around Thanksgiving time.  I tend to either order them from Snapfish or Kodak depending the design I like the best.  This year will be Snapfish because I have a credit that I need to use. 

I finished the proof and had Joe look at it. 

I ordered them this last Monday once their sale hit for buy one set get one set free- 

50% off- can not beat that!

4) Update our calendars

The holiday season is a particular busy time for us with multiple parties, friends, and family in town.  So at the beginning of November I sit down and go over it with Joe just to make sure everything is on the calendar and to also plan out.   

5) Gift for Co-workers

I have never been a big gift giver at work primarily because it can get expensive. 

So each year I just have to come up with some to give a number of my co-workers something small. 

This year- I WILL BE BAKING. 

Thanks to my Holiday  "Family Circle" Magazine that I recieved for free-  I already have two recipes. 

6) Survive the holidays- while this might seem obvious, I find the holiday particular stressful and have learned that I must run and must sleep. 

But above all- I must laugh even at myself!

7) Get stuff ready for London-

we will be traveling after the holiday season to London to visit one of my besties and her husband.  She has given me a couple things to pick up for her back in the states that are not available in the UK.  I will plan on picking these up as we go.  It is an understatement to say that I am excited about leaving the US- mostly because my husband's blackberry wont work and work can't bother him!!!

I am jumping for excitement- of course picture me in warmer clothes because it is going to be freezing in London!

8) Christmas decorating- I have decided this year I am going with the less is more approach. 

I plan on putting everything up the Sunday after Thanksgiving so I can fully enjoy our Christmas tree- also because I have a 5 day weekend with Monday off!

 I will put up the Christmas tree and decorate, place out the wreath and lights on the front door, and place out some Christmas candles but that is all I am doing.   

 I am not buying anything new because we really don't need anything. 

What do you have on your list? 

Running thru life... A lession in Staining....

A couple months ago Joe and I were walking around in the store and we saw a beautiful "H"artwork,
 Joe immediately commented that he would love to get an "H" for the house.
H is the first letter of his last name..
(I have not changed my name yet and probably wont for professional reasons.)
Unfortunately, the one in the store was too expensive and did not fit our artwork in our house. 

So I went on a mission to find an "H".

I was fortunate to find a vendor on Etsy called Simply Sawdust.

After emailing back and forth and telling him what I was looking for, what size, etc-  we came to a conclusion that I would order a 20 inch H in Edwardian Script. 

This way the first part of the "H" looked like a J for Joe and the second part looked like an L for Laura

It arrived last week......

After thinking about it I decided Staining it would work the best.  

Joe and I decided to go with a dark stain called Bombay Mahogany Satin Stain because it would match our dining room the best. 

 

 We picked it up at Walmart while we were in NC. 

Walmarts in the south are so nice!

Fairfax, VA - not so much.

 I fortunately already had a brush.  

I laid out the Sunday paper on our kitchen table and went to work. 

 

After one coat!

After three coats.  

The only thing that I would do in the future in bring some plastic gloves home from the office so that my hands do not get stain on them.
Also of note I threw the brush that I used away because the stain is so hard to clean- lucky for me my in-laws have given up about 15 brushes so I am not at a loss.  

Finished Product!