Color Me Rad

One of the goals I set for myself this year was to run in 5 5k's. I have never considered myself a runner, so this goal seemed pretty crazy to me at the time.
This past weekend was my 5th race this summer, and it's not even August!!

This weekend I ran the Color me Rad race in Ghettoville Brockton Mass. with my friend Becky.

She is not a runner and she has a crazy busy schedule so she didn't really train much.

Yes her shirt says running sucks 

She told me she was so nervous I was going to get angry if she couldnt run the the whole thing.

Girl is cray.

I wouldnt have cared if she wanted to pull up a chair and watch everyone else run by while we sipped margaritas.

I was just happy to have someone to run with. We had a blast. We didnt run the whole thing but I give my girl props, not only had she not run like all summer, she was super sick and could barely breath, and she EASILY could have ran the whole way.

The course wasn't that great. It was in the Brockton fairgrounds and kind of in surrounding neighborhoods. The "color stations" were pretty grouped together so you ran through two colors right away and then didn't see any for about a mile and half, then you ran through the rest.

There were color bombs to pick up near the finish line which ended up causing a line, so I'm glad I wasn't trying to PR.

At the end we were COVERED.

There were also a lot of really great sponsers including redbull who handed out their limited edition flavors, blueberry, cranberry, and lime. I love them all and I dont even like Redbull. 

They also had froyo and as I was nicely finishing mine up I got color bombed...in the face....

 

The whole thing was super fun and totally worth it. I will def be doing it again next year, but there are a ton of color runs in our area so we may try another one thats closer.

We also went blueberry picking but I didn't get any pictures because I'm sick now too and I choose to sit under the bushes eating them instead!

Have a great week!!

Breaking the Rules.

II feel like it was one of the first things I heard after I had my son.

Don't compare your kids.

Please find me one mom who doesn't and I bet after 2 glasses of wine she'll admit to it.

It's so hard. Especially when they are close in age. Mabel had just turned 2 when Chip was born so she was still hitting milestones at a mile a minute.

Mabel my little princess was a dream baby. She was so happy and easy going. We used to describe her as stoic. 

She used to fake laugh when you tickled her because she knew it was what she was suppose to do. She was a self soother a happy nurser (she nursed til 15 months) and she was all around an easy baby. 

Then came my boy Chippy. He was a bundle of anxiety before I could even deliver. His delivery story is a post all in its own. He has had more medical complications than I could have ever imagined. 

He also laughs full bellied all the time. He loves a good kiss session and loves being held. 

While Mabel walked at 12 months, Chip is just starting to take his first steps this past week. 

Mabel was a little chatter box (and still is) and Chip is a man of few words. 

Mabel loves the water, Chip would rather play with rocks on the beach. 

Mabel was a blueberry fiend, legit would eat her weight in them. Chippy loves him some graham crackers. 

 

But you know one thing I can say is the exact same with the both of them 

How much I love them, how I can't get enough of their kisses, how my heart melts at the sight of them sleeping.

They are also pretty damn cute, they look so much a like I love it.

Guess Who's Employed?

This kid!! I found a great part-time job. It's nothing special, nothing to write home about, but it's a job dammit and I'm happy.

I ran 2.5 miles this morning, and I could not for the life of me get in any more. I was tired. Last week drained me emotionally and I ate horribly. My workouts have showed it.

If I learned anything it's that food really is fuel.

I do really well when I plan my meals, but money has been super tight for us so I have felt really guilty spending extra money at the grocery store. Now that I know I'll have a weekly paycheck that's the first thing that needs to change.

I enjoy eating clean, and for the most part it doesn't mess with our family dinners. I love me some sweet potatoes, and broccoli. I have seen so many cool recipes on pintrest lately like a spaghetti squash crust quiche!

I'm thankful that the hubs is pretty adventurous when it comes to new foods. He's addicted to the food network and has a total man crush on Guy Fieri.

One time he tried to send me a sexy picture and all I could focus on was the fact that Guy was on in the T.V. in the background....seriously I was dying.

So I start the new job tomorrow...and they are paying me in cash until they can put me on payroll...woot woot!!

So that means I'm going to be getting down on some meal prep this weekend, right after my Color Run on Saturday.

In other news... Big Brother... I frickin love you. Where have I been the last 14 seasons. I seriously can not get enough.

I will leave you with a little BB love to get you through until tonight!

Don't tell my husband

...but I'm running a half marathon.

It's not that he doesn't want me to or that he thinks that I can't, it's just that he knows how hard I am on myself and he's worried if I can't do it I will really beat my self up. Which I will. 

So be it, I just need to make sure I finish that bad boy so that won't happen!

I'm okay with taking walk breaks and I'm okay with running slow. 

I just want to rock a 13.1 bumper sticker like a boss! 

The race is the CHaD hero run and it has special meaning to me because at this point in time my son has 3 specialists there and we are adding yet another one next month.

He's my hero so I want to be his. 

I don't want to see this ever again,

And I'm also okay with pretending like this doesn't exist

Yeah that big white thing in the middle can just suck it. 

So off I go running like a crazy person on my deathmill and outside when the weathers nice.

My first run looked like this

Woof.

Sarah over at
Runfargirl is also running this race for personal reasons which you can read about here.

She's quite an inspiration!

I also have job offers coming at me left and right....wtf where were these last week when I was crying in bed?

Looks like the times they are a changin!

About damn time.

Pity Party of 1

Okay so I didn't post yesterday, and I wasn't going to post today, because lets face it... My life is a whole bunch of donkey shit right now. 

Also my space bar is broken on my laptop #somywholepostwouldhavelookedlikeahastag

 

I know, I know I have an AMAZING husband, ADORABLE kids, a roof over my head, and fresh air to breath. I am not one to forget to be thankful for the little things, and to remember to hold my head high,

BUT DAMN, sometimes I just want and need a break. 

I'm not going to go into too much detail, because I didn't start this blog to be a downer, I started this blog to inspire people (mostly myself). I love the blogging community and I wanted to be a part of it. So I did.

So I'm writing this post to remind myself where I came from, so forgive me while I toot my own horn a little. 

Dear Candra,

Seriously get your head out of your ass. Pick your self up, like you always do and get out there. You know you are a boss time to show the world. Who cares if things aren't going your way. Fuck it. Remember that time you climbed a mountain on your due date because everyone else was doing it?? Remember that time you moved across country by yourself to provide a better environment for your unborn daughter. 

You rock. You did crazy headstands, and handstands this morning.

You have already blown goals out of the water. You graduated college, on your own. You are writing your THESIS for GRAD SCHOOL...that's cool admit it.

Your husband is dead sexy, and he wears his camo pants in the bedroom every time you ask....wink wink. 

Your kids are seriously adorable and Mabel says please and thank you like she was raised by the Queen...I mean she was but ya know. 

Chip has already jumped so many hurdles with you by his side for all of it. That kids a fighter and it's because he has a strong mama in his corner. 

That little garden you started has tomatoes and zucchini's and peppers. This may not be a lot to others, but it's a lot to you. Go barefoot garden tonight with a glass of wine...you deserve it. 

There are people out there fighting a harder battle than you, always remember that.  Last but not least, it's okay to cry, even while you are writing this, but remember you live in New Hampshire and

if you don't like the weather, just wait a minute and it will change. 

Love, 

That little voice inside your head who loves you a whole lot.

The Good, The Bad, and The SUPER UGLY

For all of you who have never done a race, or who haven't done a race YET there are these little gems called, race photos.



I'm not sure what they are supposed to showcase, but, well let me just show you, I'll start with the best....

It's nice and blurry....you're welcome.

Okay seriously... what was I thinking. It was freezing so I threw that free shirt on like it was no body's business, and I didn't give a SH how I looked.... as you can tell.

This was Boston's Run to Remember 5 miler, and here's another beaut..

woof

I think this is the point every bakery in Boston decided to start baking yumminess.

I was probably looking around to see if anyone would notice if I snuck in a bagel....

I also did a race back in April for Earthday and for some reason the race photo's look like I'm some random celebrity going for a nice morning jog and that damn paparazzi won't back off!

This was my first race ever!

My hubs snapped a photo on his phone that shows what I actually looked like during that race..

I also had to hold this pose, because he couldn't find the camera.....

So there ya go...you're welcome, and as soon as I get the race photo's up from the foam fest, I will show you some more....maybe.

ABC's of Me

Stealing this idea from a fellow blogger over at Simply Sami 
mostly because I have nothing else to post, and I love things like this!

A. Attached or Single? Attached, at the hip actually. I love my hubs and I'm that cheesy wife who gushes about my AMAZE husband!

 

  B. Best Friend? I don't have a lot of friends, so all of them are my besties 

Bridesmaids!

 

My fellow Mom bestie, I seriously can't get through a day without her!

 C.Cake or Pie? Cake, or Pie, or probably both.

D. Day of the Week? Wednesday, because it's fun to say and spell.

E. Essential Item? My phone, or my water jug

F. Favorite Color? Brown, any shade.

G. Gummy Bears or Gummy Worms? Vodka soaked...is that an option?

H. Hometown? I was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but I consider Peterborough, NH my hometown

I. Favorite Indulgence? Workout gear, signing up for races, or good good food!

J. January or July? July, I love the heat, snow...not so much

K. Kids? Two and a half (no I'm not pregnant, I just have babies on the brain!!)

Chippy D

Mabel Joan

L. Life isn't complete without? Happiness, no matter what the situation is there is always a reason to smile

M. Marriage Date? September 12, 2012

N. Number of Brothers/Sisters? No brothers or sisters, but the 17 brother and sister in laws I have make up for that!

O. Oranges or Apples? Apples, I eat one daily. 

P. Phobias? Deep water, I hate that shit.

Q. Favorite Quote? It used to be "Believe in yourself and in your dreams though impossible things may seem", but lately I am loving "Now you will feel no rain" which is the first line from a wedding blessing my friend had framed for us as a wedding present, and I'm thinking about getting it as a tattoo. 

R. Reasons to Smile? Being alive, the sunshine, the fresh air, and my beautiful family

S. Season of Choice? Summer and Autumn.

T. Tell me one thing no one knows about you - My husband knows this, but I CAN NOT STAND the sheets not being straight on the bed.

U. Unknown Fact About Me? I could easily live in the woods for months at a time with no shower.

 

V. Favorite Vegetable? I love all vegetables, but maybe peas or green beans

W. Worst Habit? I always put trash on the counter RIGHT ABOVE the trash can. I don't know why, and if we ever get divorced I'm pretty sure this habit will be to blame. 

X. X-Ray's you have had? Knee xrays, and I've had 12 inadvertent MRI's because I have to go in with my son.

Y. Your Favorite Food? Cupcakes, and beer....is beer a food?

Z. Zodiac Sign? Virgo, and I am a very stereotypical virgo

Weekend Recap

I had a great weekend, and I have about 2 million bug bites to show for it.

We went camping in Exeter at a campsite that was choosen purely because of it's proximity to the race on Saturday.

The campground looked great from the website, was a little pricey, but it was surrounded by a river and our sites looked fairly secluded.

Silly me, I forgot surrounded by water = surrounded by bugs. Super bugs that don't give a shit about bug spray.

The kids enjoyed it, the hubs hated it, and I got the tent back in the bag, zipped up! SUCCESS. Mostly because they set up the tent, and told me there was no way it was going back in the bag.

The race on Saturday was awesome. The drive there was super short, we were in the third wave so the parking was super easy and there wasn't a huge crowd. Originally we had planned to have the boys bring the kids to hang out while we ran the race because there was supposed to be a festival, but when we got there we were glad they decided to just hang around the campsite.

There was one mini sized bounce house for kids, and....that's it. Oh well it worked out for us so what-ev.

Here's a cute picture of us before

I look like a child...

It's the only picture from the race we have right now, because we couldnt run with real camera's or our phones, so the only thing I had was a disposable camera.... insert flashbacks here.

It also took me three attempts to find a place that even recognized my "vintage" camera to get the film developed, and apparently it won't be back until next Wednesday...oh technology.

ANYWHO, the race was so much fun, and we were already planning our attack on next year before we were even done.

The course was at Kimball's farm in Haverhill MA and I'm pretty sure by mud, they meant cow shit, but I plugged my nose and dove right in.

It was no Tough Mudder, which I still want to do, the obstacles were more like an over grown birthday party, with bounce houses and slip n' slides.

We finished in under an hour, enjoyed our free beverages. I got a Mike's Hard Margarita, Kassie, got a Black Cherry Lemonade, and Krista stuck with the original.

There was no option for the under-
agers which in my opinion is super lame. Give the kid a soda!

Next up.. Color Me Rad. 

I HIT THE LOTTO!!!!!

...ugh I wish. I'm going to let you all in on a little secret. I don't even know how to play the lotto. 

Do I just go in and tell the cashier random numbers and she'll know exactly what I'm talking about?

How many numbers do I need? They have to be people's birthdays right?

Do I need to take that scantron test? 

Also how do you know you won? 

Does your ticket turn gold? Do you get an email? 

Seriously I will never win because I don't even get it. 

BUT if I do win, 

the first thing I'm doing is going shopping....and I don't mean clothes shopping, I mean FOOD shopping. 

That's right my first stop would be the local Market Basket... hell I may even take it up a notch and hit up Hannafords with their fancy fake trees in the produce section. I love that shit. 

It's like shopping in paradise.

I'm poor folks, and I've been poor for a long long time, and let me tell you grocery shopping sucks. I hate comparing prices and prioritizing and putting things back at the checkout while everyone gives me dirty looks. Ain't no body got time for that.

I want to run down those aisles throwing shit in my cart like I'm trying out for Super Market Sweep. 

I want to turn my nose up at generic brands and trade my Dr.Thunder for some Dr.Pepper. I want to get a personalized birthday cake from the bakery that says Happy FUCKING Thursday, just because I can. 

nailed it!

I want to buy all the magazines (instead of just reading them and hurriedly putting them away when it's time to pay) while I'm waiting for the teenage boy I scouted out in the parking lot and paid $500 bucks to unload my 15 shopping carts. 

Then I want to come home and sit on the couch with my fancy bottle of wine while my husbands puts all that shit away.

I might also buy every piece from Kiki La'rue.

Now somebody please fill me in on how to get on the email list for the lotto....it's an email list right?

So WHAT?!

This week I'm linking up and saying SO WHAT if,

• I don't this job, it just opens me up to work on an amazing project OUT IN THE FIELD with some great departments
• I have to severly change Chip's diet so he stops getting sick, no ice cream is better than fevers and draining ears...ugh
• I'm not seeing the progress I want, a friend reminded me that any progress is still that... PROGRESS
• I'm addicted to Big Brother, and I totally like Elissa and Amanda, oh and that big teddy bear Spencer.
• I bought Mae a bathing suit that has a tutu.... 
• I havent showered yet after my run.....yesterday. 
• I'm not ready to be done with school and I'm already planning a second Master's degree or even the big PhD....WHAT?!?!
• My husband makes fun of all the pictures I take.... he doesn't even see me take half of them.
• andddd....SO WHAT if my favorite show is Pretty Little Liars, that shit is beyond addicting and suspenseful and drives me nuts WHO THE F IS A???

New Hampshire is for Lovers, or Those Who Choose to Live Free or Die.

Don't worry I am fully aware that's Virginia, but I feel otherwise.
I love living in New Hampshire, and I can say that because I've lived in many other states, and even other countries and I wouldn't trade my little ole state for anything. I'm an outdoors, backwoods, beer drinking, camo wearing kinda girl.

Yesturday the hubs and I took full advantage of living in New Hampshire and drove maybe 15 minutes and kayaked around a lake, went swimming, and kayaked back. Amazing.

 

 

He unloaded those bad boys

Not only can we kayak in the summer, we can do fun things like this in the winter,

She was excited about being the measurement for the snow...

I could go on all day about how much I love New Hampshire, but instead I'll leave you with this,

You Know You're From New Hampshire When...

• you only own three spices - salt, pepper and ketchup
• you design your Halloween costumes to fit over snow suits
• the mosquitoes have landing lights
• the men are men, and so are the women
• you have more miles on your snow blower than your car
• you have 10 favorite recipes for moose meat
• you thought "Grumpy Old Men" was a documentary
• The snowmobile outlet on any Saturday is busier than the toy stores at Christmas
• you live in a house that has no front steps, yet the door is one meter above the ground
• driving is better in the winter because the potholes get filled with snow
• you think everyone from the city has an accent
• you think sexy lingerie is tube socks and a flannel nightie with only 8 buttons
• you owe more money on your snowmobile than your car
• the most effective mosquito repellent is a shotgun
• your snow blower gets stuck on the roof
• you think the start of moose season is a national holiday
• you frequently clean grease off your barbecue so the bears won't prowl on your deck
• you know which leaves make good toilet paper
• you find -40C a might chilly
• the trunk of your car doubles as a deep freezer
• you know the 4 seasons: Winter, Still Winter, Not Winter and Almost Winter
• shoveling the driveway constitutes a great upper body workout

Why I Failed, but I'm not a Failure.

You know what happened this weekend,

smores, and staw-ber-itas and miller lites, and sweet sweet hot dogs on rolls with Ray's magical dipping Sauce, do yourself a favor buy that stuff. I wont even judge you if you eat it directly out of the bottle.

DAMN!

I fell, and I fell HARD.

But you know what, SHIT HAPPENS, it's a new week, and I'm back baby!

Last week I amazed myself at my will power. I mean I went out to ice cream, and out to lunch and didn't cheat at all! I busted my ass working out, and felt amazing. My measurements showed a difference (I'll share the results at the end of the 30 days) and I'm STILL proud of myself and damn those smore's were good.

So I started over today, I meal planned I shopped accordingly and I'm going to rock this week. Especially since this Saturday is the big race! In 5 days I will be doing things like this

  

 

and this...

and hopefully not peeing my pants if when I get shocked by these awesome wires...

All those people look happy right??

Supporters, and Haters and Five on Friday

I swear no matter what you do, there will always be someone hating on it!

Whether you are trying to get healthy or just switching your damn hairstyle.

Everyone has their views and opinions and some think it's their way or the highway.

Personally I prefer back roads, but that's just because I'm a country girl.

For the past few months I have really be focusing on bettering my health, inside and out. I run a lot more than I used to, especially considering I never ran! I eat healthier or at least try to and I have also been working on other personal goals involving my kids and my husband that are more private and I'm not quite ready to share those yet.

But there will always be those people in my life who focus on my eating and think I'm being "picky" or not happy with whats around. Well if that's what you want to call it then yes I'm being picky.

I'm choosing more veggies, and lean meats. Less carbs and less dairy (my weakness!!).

Through my journey I have also met some really awesome people who are inspired by me, which little do they know is CRAZY and I am more inspired by them even thinking about making changes!!

AnyWHO, yesterday was a beautiful holiday and we spend the morning at the beach. Both kids actually took a nap, and we ended the day at the Strawberry Festival with strawberry shortcake (which I did not partake in). We caught up with good friends and finally got to drool over their GORGEOUS new baby. Her red hair I die!

Now we are off for a weekend away. There will be more swimming, more temptations and hopefully more sun!

Now for my link up

 

 1. Fresh fruit on hot days

Amazing

 2. Dancing babies

 3. Motivation in the form of Snooki...

Get it girl!

 4. My pups Ms.Large, Ms.Medium and Ms. Prissy Bitchy Pants.

5. Sunny days at the beach with my loveys