me....a runner?!

Well not really - I am not a runner at all, but this summer I have found out that I actually like to run! Who would have thought?! NOT ME! 

It all started in April when I really wanted to run the Color Me Rad 5k - not because of the RUN, but because of the colored chalk you throw all over! So I did that and it was hard! Could not even run a mile without being super winded.  So on into May I ran 1.5 miles in California, but it was downhill almost the entire time.  When I got back I ran 2 miles with my friend and I was so proud of myself! But it was way hard.  So then two of my friends in Daybreak told me that they had started running a few miles in the mornings and that I should come.  First off I am NOT a morning person and have a way hard time waking up, second - I had run maybe 3-4 times and was not in good shape.  But somehow I get roped into going with them and the first few times it was super hard, 2 miles killed me - and we were going to slow! But after a few times I was started to build up endurance and actually enjoy it!  The weather was perfect, the sunrises were truly amazing, I fell even more in love with Daybreak running around the gorgeous lake/trails/temple, and I loved getting home from a run and stretching on my front lawn for a few minutes in complete silence with no one outside - it was so peaceful. 

Then once I hit 3 miles, 4 miles and so on I was feeling so proud of myself and wanted to continue!

This was my favorite sunrise of the summer, it was breathtaking - this picture has no filter or edit and it still doesn't do it justice!

After a while we decided to sign up for the Bluffdale 10k! It was a TINY race, like maybe 20 people ran the 10k portion but it was still fun!

 Before the race
I seriously love Kylee and Karina and I owe it to them for getting me into running! If it weren't for them I would never have started.  I truly look forward to waking up at 6am or earlier just because I get to hang out and chit-chat with them for an hour and it is so much fun!  They have seen me at my best and worst, listened to drama, we've learned a lot about each other and they have pushed me along the way. Love you guys!!

After! I had never run 6 miles before so I was proud of myself!

Another gorgeous morning

We ran together on Kylee's bday so I got birthday crowns and a sash to celebrate

My parents stake put on a 5k and I wanted to run it with my mom so we slept over and Al and my dad woke up early to go on a bike ride and then the boys met us at the race.

It was so fun to run with my amazing mama who is my fitness inspiration! And I loved running around the neighborhoods that I grew up in - even though it was a lot hard than my Daybreak runs because of all the hills!

With the changing seasons running is a lot harder since the sun rises later now - but its still gorgeous and I loved the bright moon and star above the temple one morning. 

Footsteps for Fertility 5k!

Thank you to all my friends and family who supported us in this! It meant so much! We didn't win the free IVF that they were raffling off but it was a lot of run and we really appreciated all of you who signed up for us! And it was for such a great cause that we 100% support and believe in. 

Mal was so nice to wake her boys up early and come run it with us! Im so glad she was there along with a bunch of Al's cousins. 

Annie, Lizzie and Heather were SO nice to sign up for us! I loved having them there - I seriously love you girls and that meant so much to me!

After the race we all headed to Einstein's for breakfast

Love my hubby :)

This was the first time I ran 10 miles! I was so proud of myself! I literally never in my life thought I could run that far so I had to document it for proof!!

Then it seemed like over night it was fall and our down-hill canyon runs came at the perfect time! 

Me, Pris, Care and Abs ran down Emigration to the U of U stadium and it was so fun and beautiful!

The next weekend I ran down Big Cottonwood Canyon with Pris, Linds and Kylee and it was the perfect weekend to go. The leaves were amazing! It was probably my easiest run yet because I was so in awe of my surroundings!

Last Saturday we ran down Big Cottonwood again and although a lot of the leaves had fallen off, the sunrise was gorgeous!

On to my next adventure - the Halloween Half marathon! I don't know how I got talked into that one! Its something that's always been on my bucket list but I had no idea I would actually be able to cross it off! I am nervous and excited for it - wish me luck!

random summer

Long story short - here is my summer in a nut-shell - according to my iPhone and Instagram pics!

Back at the beginning of summer I got together with my DG friends since Jane was in town, as usual it was so fun meeting up for lunch at my fave, Red Butte. Love these girls!

My work had a bowling day and lunch at Fat Cats - so fun to get out of the office for a day. I love my work BFF (and also DG sis!) Laura - so glad I get to work with her!

I love my Daybreak girls and am so grateful to have made such good friends in my neighborhood - I don't know what I'd do without them! Kylee had us all over for a BBQ at the beginning of summer, it was so fun to get together with all the hubbies and kids for once since its usually just us girls. 

I love me a good snow cone in the summer and Island Flavor in Holladay is the best!

Don't mind the creepy iPhone eyes

The Farmer's Market downtown is a summer must - I literally crave the mint limeade daily! 

Hike to Donut Falls! Such a fun little hike. 

Remember when we entered the Miley Contest?? Well 97.1zht was doing the same thing for Justin Bieber so of course we had to enter! We didn't win :( but our picture was still pretty funny! 

Ellen!! Like really - how the heck did I win tickets to TWELVE DAYS?! Best day of my life!! I have watched Ellen for years and I really can't believe that I will be one of those people in the audience winning cool prizes! And not to mention the fact that they fly us out there, put us in a hotel, etc. Seriously amazing!! I'm so glad that I have an office job where I have time to sit and enter contests often haha! It obviously pays off! Long story short - there was a contest to win tickets that I entered a bunch of times and one night while we were at dinner in The District with some friends I got a call and a girl told me that I was selected as a winner! I was freaking out, people around me probably thought I was nuts. It was such a fun phone call to take! 

Here is a Tweet to me from The Ellen Show! 

And I Tweeted back!

This summer I got put on the Relief Society Activity committee which I am really excited about. For the last 5 years I've been in Young Women's and Nursery so its nice to be able to get to know more women in my ward and I really love all of the girls I get to work with. 

Our first activity I was put in charge of our treat table and we decided to do a Trail Mix bar.  I was going to be out of town for the activity but I got everything together and then passed it on to my friend to make it cuter and set it up - I think it turned out pretty cute! I was sad to miss the first activity. 

My BFF Bitty is getting hitched! I am sooo excited for her! When she got engaged we all went out to dinner at Pizzeria Limone and Red Mango - SUCH a fun night.  We really could have stayed all night long laughing, talking and hanging out - oh wait, we did! 

Sunday dinner FaceTiming with Meg!

3rd time's the charm with Wicked! I seriously think it was almost better this time then the first two times - I'm obsessed with this play and know every word!

My cousin Tenley got married so my grandma threw her a shower at The Lion House - yum! I love all my cousins! 

Benj and Rach brought Jack Attack out to Daybreak one night and he had a blast at the lake!

And finally the Brigham City Temple open house - we headed up north to eat at Maddox and go to the open house, the temple is gorgeous and I'm so glad we got to go!

There you have it folks - my summer summed up in about 30 seconds.  We had such a fun summer and kept extremely busy. I am 100% a summer girl and am sad to see it end, but I do love me some soup, sweaters, pumpkins and leaves - if only Fall lasted longer!