more work shower pictures!

My co-worker gave me a jump drive of all our shower pictures last week – so I want to share some of my favorites!!  …She actually captured lots of good ones!

 

Who would have thought I would have been so excited about our silver wear organizer.  Well.. take a look at what we currently have and it just is not cutting it.  That one, it expands.  Genious!  And then (it is small but still great) – Kyle got his Redskins Tervis Tumbers.  So excited about our collapsible measuring cups and our new hand mixer / organizer!  Wahoo. 

I know I mentioned it before, but my work shower was fabulous.  I really could not work with a better group of people!!

…and this is what is going on…

I feel like I should be wayyy better at this blog updating thing – especially since I am all of 21 days away from my wedding… but I think since I am 21 days away from my wedding is why I am not updating as much.  SO much going on.

This week for work – I was out sick Monday. Tuesday I worked in my office.  Wednesday I was in Marietta. Thursday in my office and Friday in Alpharetta.  Just call me and office nomad. I will be in Marietta again tomorrow. And then our office all week.  And then the next week I will in in the North Carolina Triad area. 

As you know… Kyle and I got his + her cars.  Legit … matchy matchy same car.  We both LOVE them.  And I am pretty sure these car is bigger than my Pathfinder was and I love BIG!  Our garage does look a little ridiculous (as you can see) but I am loving that I can stream the music from my iPhone to my radio and that I can stream my phone though my car so I can talk hands free.  Evidently, the car can take E-85 gas, which is cheaper … but I don’t know a lot about it but all I have read is that you actually get worse gas mileage.  I need an education in the car and gas world.  Please and thank you.

Last night was my last dress fitting!!  And my maid and matron of honor came to learn how to do the bustle.  And then we went to dinner and it was SO good to see both of them.  They both work for the same company and work all the time and travel and then with my bus and then with my busy life, I don’t get to see them as much as I would like to.  So…. it was good to just decompress and catch up!  I love my dress and they’re putting the final touches on it so I can pick it up late next week!!!

Today I worked out – Blast900 – even though I just wanted to stay in bed and sleep in and then headed to my 75 minute facial (thanks half off  depot) and it was amazing.  My face currently resembles a pre-teen’s with all it’s acne and zits trying to pop through.  Hopefully my face will clear up significantly over the next few weeks.

Tomorrow is Kyle’s birthday and I get the great honor of taking him to Fogo. …As he feasts on way too much meat on a stick, I will be grazing at the salad bar.  ….he does realize he is getting married and he is working out to LOSE the weight that he is about to put on tomorrow?  Oh boys!!

Three Things Thursday.

Can you believe that next Thursday is Thanksgiving?!  I am wondering where 2011 is going and I am SLACKING on the Christmas shopping this year.  So, I need to get in gear!

And I am REALLY excited about today because on of my girls is pregnant and she is having her gender reveal party tonight and I cannot wait to hear if it is a boy or a girl so I can start buying baby stuff.  I hope it is a girl, I want to buy lots and lots of tutus! =D  Yay for friends and babies!!

1.  For real.  Kyle loves me.  I asked him the other day if he would go see The Grinch with me at the Fox Theater and his answer "sure" ... and I said, "really?" and his answer was "anything to make you happy" -- now  I know he really does not want to go to The Grinch, but since he know that I love Christmas and all things Christmas he agreed to go with me.  So we have a super fun date night on the books for December 3rd.   Sadly, we were trying to double date it with one of my most favorite people Chrissy and her husband, Matt - but they will be in the Blue Ridge Mountains .... so it is just Kyle and me and The Grinch.  :o)  now I need Kyle to agree to go see Annie with me in January ... that my friends will be true love.

2.  I am thankful to have a job and to have a job that I really really like and enjoy going to every single day.  But I would be lying if I did not say I was overwhelmed at work.  Like legit overwhelmed - not enough time in the day - overly exhausted.  We are 1 week out (correction, 2 business days) from rolling out the pilot of our new database for our branches  and just getting everything ready for it is A LOT.  Electronic documents. Training guides.  ...and then on top of my everyday tasks and other projects I am currently working on to help improve processes.  It is just a lot.  I am so thankful for Thanksgiving to be around the corner. 
3.  So I just joined Delta SkyMiles since I am about to be going to St. Louis & Daytona and Melbourne FL for work and I want points!! ...And now I am getting "Delta Deals" emails and it is making me want to travel travel travel.  Like, I can get a flight to Memphis and back for $59.00 -- and one of my bestest and more favorite people ever lives in Memphis!  So, I could go see Heather and I know she would love that since she has had a HARD past few months.  And... there is a flight to Ft. Myers for $89 and I could do that and go to the beach in October with my family.  This could be bad. Very bad. Vacaction anyone?

Ok.  Well with that - I am out of here.  If I don't post between now and Thanksgiving -- have a very good holiday with family & friends -- be safe, eat lots, tell people you love them and really, have a great holiday!

Oh and in case you're wondering -- 128 days!! I mean jeeze where is the time going!  But luckily the wedding is planned for the most part -- invites, flowers, food, cake, rehearsal dinner - done and done.  Just gotta do dress fitting and finish buying little details.  I will be a Shanahan before you know it!

Three Things Thursday.

... three things thursday. once again. not about running. just about life. maybe i should change the name of my blog from "barbie rus" to "barbie lives" ...

1. This past Monday I put in my 2 weeks notice at the company I have worked at for pushing 3 years.  It was bittersweet, there are SO many things that I have loved about that company. But, in December I was contacted by a company to "talk" about them, me, and what I wanted.  We never connected for who knows what reason, but about 2 weeks ago I was courted again and started talking to them. They offered me a position I just could not turn down.  Though I loved working with my coworkers and many people in the company and though i loved SO many aspects of the company as a whole, I just felt thought it was time to gain new experiences.  I hate to say that I felt that I had hit my glass ceiling at the company I had been with for years, but I was having the feeling that I was "stuck" where I was since I was stable and good at my job.  My old company was without a doubt my "family" here in Atlanta... they're all I have really known since moving here and I am so so thankful for that and for them and for all the memories. I would lie if I said that it was not scary to jump and make a HUGE change since I had a world of job security at my old company, but you don't gain anything without trying and without taking risks no matter how huge they may be.  So what's next?  I am working as a Talent Manager and I will be responsible for building a team of recruiters, managing them, training and coaching and developing them, and still recruiting & working with clients.  Needless to say - I am ready for the challenge and am excited to be starting something new on Monday.  The question is: will it be better or worse for my running life.  They talked about a work life balance... so *fingers crossed* better.
2. After putting in my notice, I was pretty much told I was done - which is understandable since I was going to competition and had access to a database full of candidate and client info.  SO, I have had 4 days to watch Gilmore Girls, shop for the new house, read the book I have to read prior to Monday, lunched with girlfriends, run errands, drink wine, walk the dog, nap with the dog, play with the dog, and take bubble baths!  Tomorrow after lunch with a friend, I am planning on getting my Stone Mountain pass and suffereing through a run.  It has been the 1st 4 days where I had NOTHING to do since moving to Atlanta and I could totally do this for a living.  Why can't I just be rich with zero responsibilities.
3.  Kyle and I picked our 1st dance song last night and we danced to it in the living room.  And no... I don't want to share what our song is because I want it to be a surprise to those who will be attending our wedding.  I love the song so much that I am listening to it now.  Ok, one lyric and if you want to look it up, you can do so.... "you're a mystery, you're from outerspace, you're every minute of my everyday" ....  But I love having our house and all the space so we can dance to my iTunes.  Tomorrow is Kyle's birthday and I am even more excited about that!! =)

With that... I will now give my lifetime movie full attention! =)

two things thursday.

first i want to apologize for being so absent. yes. work. work is way in the way of my running and ability to be a runner. work keeps my head spinning and on top of it, kyle and i are gearing up for a move and moving takes A LOT of time and even more out of you.  ....so with that i give you 2 things thursday... rather than 3 things because i cannot even think of 3 things since my life is so consumed with work and the move.  so excited for happy hour with the girls tomorrow... it will be much needed & long overdue!

1. on monday, the 14th, kyle and i will have the keys to our new home.  :o)  we have been taking about a house and talking about a house and FINALLY we are getting one.  As exciting as it is, the whole process is overwhelming and expensive.  We have to pay the deposits and buy a washer and dryer (thanks best buy for 18 month financing) and a microwave and a kitchen table and pay the movers and get the old apartment repaired and cleaned. oi. the costs. but in the long run we're gonna have more space for the 3 of us and the wedding presents and mulligan will have a backyard!  but with that said. i shall share the 2 pictures of the house that i have. the front and the funky tin loving kitchen.

2. work has been crazy busy since the year kicked off. and it has been draining me. seriously. i think about nothing but work when i am at work and away from work. when i get home i am so tired that i want to do nothing but make dinner and sleep and the weekends. goodness. i am in awake by 11:30/12:00 and in bed by 10:00.  It has killed my motivation to run or work out.  i am planning on buying a year pass to stone mountain for 4 mile hilly runs and joining Lifetime Fitness once we move... I am just hoping with spring coming and the new gym (spin class and the pool) I can find my motivation again.  i need someone to seriously teach me a work/life balance. how do you people do it?! i want to try to figure out how to work it into my work day -- give me 1 hour per day to just check out, like i used to... but it is damn near impossible.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner.

FRIDAY HELLO! I guess I will get to the reason everyone has tuned in on this lovely Friday to announce a winner of the BodyGlide for Her.  I do not know why but there is something fun & exciting about hosting a giveaway!  I think next giveaway I am going to make you all work for it and put on your thinking caps and give me a creative reason on why you want the free schwag and I shall pick the winner on creativity.  Later.Later. Well thanks to random.org and their random number generator number 20 was chosen. 

20 = Amanda – Run to the Finish!

Congrats! Message me via email (barbara.a.vines@gmail.com) your contact info and I will drop that bad boy in the mail ASAP. I have really enjoyed getting to read my new follower’s blogs and I am excited to share moments with so many of them.  YAY!

I tried to start my for real Marine Corp Marathon training this week – I was scheduled to.  Granted, I was not off to a GREAT start … skipping cross training and pounding out only my 3 miler I have a long run (8 miles) planned for Sunday morning and I WILL wake up and do it.  My 3 miler was an easy one and I really got in the groove at the beginning…  I was actually bummed about missing my 5 miler for a client happy hour (and found a new beer to love. hello blue moon).  I am really thinking about incorporating a Saturday swim into my weekly workout too.  ….which means I should be swimming (and drowning) tomorrow at some point.

I am still toying with the idea of running the Women’s Half Marathon in Nashville in September and treat it more as a training run than a real race to set a PR.   It would be a quick easy thing and I could change my clothes real quick, throw on some compression socks (provided I break down and buy some between now and then), and head back to Atlanta right after, whereas if I did RnR VA Beach I will up there for a long weekend.  Still thinking thinking thinking.

Have a wonderful weekend all!!

work vs. running - fight to the death.

My brain is so past fried. I just tried to sign into blogger with the user name "blogger". Very wrong, that is not my user name.

It is pushing 10:00 pm and I am just now signing out of work. This is the 2nd night in a row. This happened twice last week. We are slammed at the office and lacking manpower. I am doing two jobs at once. My head spins for the 9 hours I am clocked in. There is no such thing as a break, you want lunch? You bring it or run downstairs and grab something to eat at your desk as you work. Listen: I am in no way shape or form complaining. I am so past grateful for a job and for a job I enjoy.

I work in the staffing industry. I work on the sales side. So as I bring in clients who need jobs filled it is imperative to get those jobs FILLED. If they get filled, I make more money. If they do not get filled, I do not make more money and then I have to beg for another chance. SO! I have been trying my best to fill jobs and sell and fill jobs. Everyone in my office has a head that is spinning and we're all moving 4 million miles per hour... my scheduled 3pm run is just not happening and it needs to be.

I have this crazy idea that I want to be prepared to The Marine Corps Marathon. I started off this week on a great foot. I ran my scheduled run on Monday and then life went crazy at the office. I was unable to leave early today for my weekly spin class. My 5 miler that was scheduled yesterday, yeahh about that.

I am at a total loss on what I am supposed to do. Kyle and I have it worked out that he hits the gym Monday & Friday and I get the gym Tuesday & Thursday (that is, if I can escape the office by 4:45pm). I have it on my calendar to run EVERYDAY at 3pm I just cannot seem to pull away from the computer. I have been taking the dog on long walks to keep the cardio up (as much as walking does) but unfortunately he is not quite the running pal so we run a teeny tiny bit and then go back to a walk.

I guess I am just overwhelmed. I have an 8miler scheduled for Sunday. I guess we shall see how that goes!

It is Cold. Life is Busy.

Every morning for the past few days the thought of running outside in the cold makes me shudder. Last I heard it was colder in Atlanta than it is at the Winter Olympics. And to be honest, that is out of control. I moved to the south for mild winters not freezing ones. ...I digress. But all this cold weather has been zapping my motivation to run and with ING 4 or so weeks off I am beginning to realize that I am stepping into yet another half marathon that I am NOT ready for. Wasn't it one of my resolutions to actually take endurance events seriously and train for them? I just do not know how people muster up the willpower to get out in 20-30 degree weather and run. My lungs burn, my Garmin freezes my wrist, and I feel just miserable. I know I am a HUGE baby and I should just suck it up ... but for some reason I just cannot warm up when I run in freezing temps.

On top of it all I wonder how people work 40 hour work weeks and still log 40+ miles each week. I know it is all about scheduling your workouts and staying focused and keeping your eye on the final goal, but after working a 9 hour day (sometimes longer) and constantly being on call all I really want to do is make dinner, take the dog outside a few times, sit on the couch, watch mindless TV, play with my dog, read my book, and then go to bed. In that order. Lately I have just been so exhausted and want to do nothing but relax and take it easy. It was so much easier to get out after work to run when it wasn't cold and dark too. It was also so much easier when I would take a mid-day break and run for a hour, but the office is just so busy right now that it is not possible. I just do not know how people do it and I have major respect for them.


I have been super inconsistent with the weekly spin class and weekly swims and weekly pilates class as well. Sunday mornings are just so much more peaceful in my warm bed than trekking to LA Fitness. I wanted to run 48 and some miles this month and I think I am at like 8 total. Granted I do have a 10k next weekend and I will get some miles in this weekend I am going to be no where near the 48 mile mark. I just always feel so stretched thin and pulled in 4 million directions and like there is not enough time in the day. My friend Erin gets up some morning at 5:30 AM to work out and I think she is out of control, crazy to do so but I respect her dedication to running and staying in shape. ...I think I just need her to share that with me.

Maybe I am just impatiently waiting for spring. I do know that I am over all this cold weather and I really do miss running and the time it is for me to clear my mind and decompress. I just would much rather run on the streets than the treadmill. Where is the sunshine and cool weather and pretty flowers?! I miss you!