Color Me Rad

So normally I always intend to prepare for a 5k. I anticipate actually running for decent periods of time before I show up to finish a 3.1 mile race. But this time, it really wasn't my fault.

My sweet aunt (dad's cousin) Sherry had registered for the Color Me Rad run in Greensboro, but was going to have to work! But she could transfer her registration to someone and it looked like fun so I said, sure. Transfer it to me. So she did! And I was excited that my friend Denise had already registered for the race so I'd have a running buddy.

And didn't we make a fine looking pair? We were excited, because neither of us was really hard core about this run, we just wanted to survive it and come out color bombed. And so we did.

It was a FREEZING morning, but after running uphill in the sunshine for nearly 3 miles, we warmed up pretty quickly. While I was glad for my Under Armour at 8 am, by 10 it was a bit much. But we powered through! We ran, we walked, we jogged, we were bombed. And it was awesome.

At the end, we went for our "after" photos and the sweet lady in front of us had some extra color bombs. We put them to good use.

Hoppy Easter!

Well, the Easter bunny finally got to Greensboro, and we headed out to meet him. Hayden has been looking forward to this all week. After we parked and got down there, we realized we got there just in time for his break. We took a walk, got a smoothie, window shopped and went back to get in line. By "in line" I mean Jay and Hayden held our place while I chased Lila around the better part of two floors of the Four Seasons Mall.

When it was finally our turn, I was none too surprised that little miss wanted nothing to do with sitting with said bunny. We sat her in the chair at his feet, and she still cried. I gave her a pacifier, still crying. I was about to give up and just let Hayden hang out with him when I spotted giant eggs that were part of the backdrop. Perfect! So bink-in-mouth, butt-in-chair, egg-in-lap Lila and creepy-face-usually-reserved-for-Santa had their picture taken with the Easter bunny. I love these kids.

How do I keep doing this?

I swear, I don't mean to go a month without blogging! Time gets away from you when there's a plague on both your houses. And by that I mean at home and at work. We have had sinus infections, strep, stomach viruses and one nasty case of pinkeye (me)...so we need a break from the germs!

The long-awaited update on Jen Lancaster!!

So I saw her nearly two months ago, for shame. But I swear I've been super busy. Reading her book, changing our picture to my cover photo on Facebook...and you know, work and the plague. But in a nutshell, she. was. AWESOME.

I headed to Charlotte on a cold afternoon after work and met up with my little sister Leighton for coffee at Starbucks. It was so good to see her face! We have both been busy and hadn't been able to catch up since her wedding, so it was great to see her.

After a quick coffee I headed the long way through Charlotte *I hate being a tourist* to the Barnes & Noble. I'd brought along with me six copies of her new book (for me and my wine club) and seven of her other books. Thinking that might be a bit much, I agonized and picked three of my faves because nine isn't too many, right?

I got it and got our three seats and our tickets and sat down impatiently. My friend Amanda joined me soon after, and then Jen walked in!! It was like seeing someone famous because, well, she is. But she was so laid back and fun, and maybe even a little nervous? She started by saying she didn't want to being the program early, but it was cool if we just wanted to chat. So we got to ask her about Fletch, Barbie, the Thundercats, her house, etc. And it wasn't at all like talking to someone famous.

Admittedly, I was nervous that with all these best-sellers and fame, she'd forgotten the little people. But she mentioned that her readers didn't like her fiction work, that it was too similar to her real life. So her new fiction book? No resemblance to her real life. Her readers didn't like paying for a book that they'd read 75% of online. So her next new book? None of the stories are on the blog. I loved that she admitted her negative feedback, and did something about it. Faith restored!

She read a chapter out of her new book, Here I Go Again, and then took questions. She was so funny, and not at all pretentious or snotty. Sassy maybe, but not snotty. But that's what her readers loved about her. I loved the chance to meet her in person because while she's exactly the same as she is in her books and on her blog, she's also totally different. She's a person. Who gets spray tan.

We were among the last to get our books signed, and when I mentioned I thought 13 too many to sign, she insisted that I go out to the car to get them. "I'm here, you paid for them, why not??" was her response. So my sweet friend Stephanie went out to the car so I wouldn't miss a minute with my fave author (and new bestie).

I was so excited to finally meet her! I missed her for four years while we were in Germany, and she hasn't been back to NC since I moved back (for shame). But you can bet if she's within 4 (okay, 6) hours of me in June for The Tao of Martha, I'm totally going to see her again!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

This year, St. Patrick's Day fell on a Sunday, so the kids had a celebration at school on the 15th, the preceeding Friday. I was so excited to put them in their special outfits and of course, to take a picture.

Well guess which one was NOT interested in a picture at 630? Yup. But she was content to have her picture taken with mom, and Hayden was more than happy to use the fancy camera.

At least they keep it real.

Bridal Brunch

A few Salem ladies and friends got together to celebrate Allison's upcoming nuptials! For me it was a chance to see some great old friends, catch up and have a meal with two hands! I left the babies in dad's capable hands and headed to Village Tavern in Winston-Salem to celebrate Allison! I did run into a small brush fire on the way, with several fire trucks parked on the highway just a half mile from my exit. Doh!

Jen Pounders Frick was our fabulous hostess, and baby Tabor came along too! I got to hold him, that sweet little fellow. He was a champ, sleeping for most of the shower. We decorated with some quick banners and balloons that Jen brought and we were ready for our guests!

There were games, there were gifts, there was a generally good time had by all...and of course, the food! I love to eat at VT and it's always hard to choose because I like everything I've ever gotten from there. But we had a great time catching up and even poking a little fun at the bride to be! I miss my Gramley girls and can't wait to see them a little more this summer!!

Letters to Lila: Growing up

Dear Lila,

It's a terrifying thing, as a parent, to watch your babies grow up. They're supposed to of course; they're babies. It's a natural fact. They're born, they get big. But the world is a scary, mean, unfair place. And I don't want you to ever know that. Then again, it's a beautiful, exciting, adventurous place, and I want you to know all about that. I wouldn't be who I am if I didn't know the ugly, mean parts of the world. So all I can do is hope you have more good than bad, more happy than sad, more beautiful adventures than ugly days. And sometimes, Faith Hill can say it better than I can...


"Fireflies"

Before you met me I was a fairy princess


I caught frogs and called them prince

And made myself a queen.

Before you knew me i traveled 'round the world

I slept in castles and fell in love

Because I was taught to dream.

I found mayonnaise bottles and poked holes on top

To capture tinkerbell

They were just fireflies to the untrained eye

But I could always tell



[chorus]

I believe in fairytales and dreamers dreams like bed sheet sails

And I believe in peter pan and miracles

And anything I can to get by

And fireflies


Before I grew up I saw you on a cloud.

I could bless myself in your name and pat you on your wings.

Before I grew up I heard you whisper so loud

"life is hard, and so is love, child, believe in all these things".

I found mayonnaise bottles and poked holes on top

To capture tinkerbell

And they were just fireflies to the untrained eye

But I could always tell

[chorus]

Before you met me I was a fairy princess

I caught frogs and called them prince

And made myself a queen.

Before you knew me i traveled 'round the world

And I slept in castles and fell in love

Because I was taught to dream...


I hope that you dream, and fall in love, and have a whole host of fairy tales in your life before you grow up and the world tells you not to dream, not to believe, not to pretend. She's right baby girl, life is hard and so is love, so believe in all these things. Stay young as long as you can. Be a princess. Capture fireflies. Sing and dance and be silly. Because one day, you'll be grown up and can't do those things anymore. But you can always dream.