Father Running Pittsburgh Marathon Blindfolded

My new hero!  This dedicated father is running to race money for his daughter who was born blind.  Not only that, but he is running the entire Pittsburgh Marathon blindfolded!  Read his story here.

Kids RollerSkate FREE

You can sign up each of your children for 2 FREE skate passes every week for 2013!!
They have a list of participating rinks.  What a cool way to spend a snowy, rainy or super hot day!
My kids love to roller skate and rollerblade.  Here is the link!

Week 8 Style Challenge: Necklace Stack

Thank goodness last week's challenge is O-V-E-R.  Dresses + Homeschool Mom + 5 month old = NO NEED TO WEAR A FREAKING DRESS.  I tried, I really did.  I searched for an occasion to wear a dress.  Then the cold crept in and I got even MORE lazy about working a dress into my wardrobe.  Had it been a SWEATS challenge - I would have nailed it!

On to this week....
Tra la la la la....

I'm a crafter.  I have necklaces.  Lots of necklaces.  Half of which I have crafted myself.  Or my crafty queen  friend AMY has crafted for me.  Or my jewelry design extraordinaire VAL has gifted me.  

So this week's challenge is NECKLACE STACKING.  Not just one petite little pearl on a strand kind of necklace.  Oh no!  Grab a few...blindfolded if you dare...and wear them around your neck.

This I can do.  I have a few outings planned this week.  I THINK I CAN.  NO....I WILL SUCCEED.

Week 5 Style Challenge: Brooch

Does the word BROOCH invoke visions of antique jewelry and black & white photos?  Well, it shouldn't!  Brooches can be very NOW.  If you happen to have a brooch tucked away that is a family heirloom - get it out, dust it off, and wear it this week.  Otherwise, you can easily create a brooch from a fancy earring, a silk flower, even tiny artwork from your kids and some ribbon.

I think the key to this week's challenge of wearing a BROOCH each day is finding new ways to wear them.  Brooches don't have to lay sweetly on a lapel.  Pin one to your winter hat.  Use one to define your waist on a dress.  Pin it to your bag, your boot, or attach one to a necklace.  Think outside the brooch box.

Click here for brooch inspiration.

Run This Year: 2,013 Miles

That’s right, run 2,013 miles in 2013.
We’re inviting all of you to join in on the challenge. 2,013 sounds like a lot of miles, because it is. But that’s part of the fun, right? You can break it up like this:

2,013 miles:

• 5.516 miles per day
• 38.72 miles per week
• 167.75 miles per month
• 76.84 marathons per year
• 671 runs to Starbucks (if your Starbucks is 3 miles away)

There are tons of ways to get started at reaching your goal. Tiffany and I will be hosting monthly challenges and chats to help motivate you and encourage you to RUN THIS YEAR.

Let's see I'm already approximately 60 miles behind :(  
How about you???? 

Snowflake Poem

Stumbled across this lovely little poem...

Whenever a snowflake leaves the sky,
It turns and turns to say goodbye.
"Goodbye, dear cloud, cool and grey."
Then lightly travels on its way.

And when a snowflake finds a tree
"Good day," it says, "good day to thee."
Thou art so bare and lonely here
I'll call my friends to settle near."
- anonymous

Disney World Marathon Weekend 2013 - Arrival

This past Wednesday the "fam" and I jumped on a plane and headed to Orlando for Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend (WDW Marathon).  Being Disney newbies my family (me, husband, 8yo, 6yo, and 3-month old) had no prior knowledge about the theme parks and no idea what to expect.  As a matter of fact, I assumed this would be another stressful family vacation of "best vacation ever" expectations withering away with each argument among the children, exhaustion, and indecision about what to do next.  Would this be another crowded amusement park with really bad food?  Would we spend the entire weekend trying to figure out directions to the expo, the race, a decent place to eat?  Boy, was I ever WRONG!

From the time we stepped off the plane Disney treated us like royalty.  Actually, Disney treated EVERY guest like royalty, taking care of each detail and alleviating all of the highest stressors (i.e. luggage, transportation, and most importantly addressing the needs of our children).  They are a well-oiled machine with friendly, knowledgeable employees everywhere.  The most impressive part being the huge percentage of Disney employees who were disabled or above the age of 60. We stepped aboard the Disney's Magical Express (complimentary transportation to all Disney resorts) and were dropped off at the front door to Disney's Yacht Club Resort.  No rental car, no bad directions, no worries.

Because we were there for the WDW Half Marathon runDisney had a complete marathon weekend itinerary waiting in our room, along with a hospitality suite for all runners and their guests to grab snacks, drinks, continental breakfast items, and incidentals throughout the weekend.  The hospitality suite was their way of supporting all runners at each Disney resort -- keeping us hydrated, nourished, and stress-free.

From the moment we arrived I knew that this would truly come to be a "magical" weekend.  Yes, I was already sipping the Disney kool-aid (wink, wink).

We arrived late the first night - grabbed some grub and went to bed.  

Next post:  Blogger 6am run around the boardwalk, race expo at ESPN, Epcot, and more.