Motivation for the day...

Thought for the day...

In 5 days, I'm gonna fly 13.1 miles....

Sunday Blues...

So today started out really REALLY crappy...I needed a pick-me-up, so I went to my runner's quotes. They made me feel a lot better. Here are a few of my recent favorites. Maybe they can provide you with a little something if you are feeling like me:

"Running is just you, the work you put in, and the clock. You can't cheat yourself. If you don't put in the miles, you can't go to the starting line thinking you're going to pull a miracle out of nowhere. You get out exactly as much as you put in." Desiree Davila

"There are no standards and no possible victories except the joy you are living while dancing your run. You are not running for some future reward-the real reward is now!" Fred Rohe, author of The Zen of Running


"I just go out there and feel like, 'This is hard, but this is great.' I just feel so incredibly alive. And I feel healthy and inspired when I run a race, even if it's not my best day." Tina Ingegneri, Runner's World Challenger of the Week

If you are a runner and don't subscribe to the Runner's World Daily Quotes, I highly recommend it. They really provide me with some positive thoughts for a day that might be headed in the wrong direction. :-)

xoxo Livvie

Why I Succeed...

Happy New Year!

Yeah, I know...a lot of time has gone by since the new year started, but it has been THAT crazy!  What a GREAT year!!  I am so excited for 2012 and the new challenges that will present themselves...and the rewards that will accompany them!  

There were SO MANY wonderful things that occurred in 2011...I wish I had the time to mention them all.  :-)  But here are a few:

I ran my first half marathon with one of my closest friends, Kristin Byrne, in February.  What a fun weekend, and fun race!  In 2011, We completed the Princess Half, the Run Happy 10K in Grosse Ile, and the Detroit Free Press Half together.  I cherish our friendship and hope it continues to grow.  I pray that we will continue to enjoy good health in the future, so that we can continue to take on new races together.  In less than two weeks we will be off to Anaheim, California, to run the Disney Tinker Bell Half.  What a great way to start out the 2012 running year!

I became a God Mother to the most beautiful girl in the whole wide world!  Sarah Lena Walkuski came into our world at 3:01 PM on April 5, 2011, weighing in at 9 pounds and 14 ounces.  She is such a blessing.  How grateful I am to have been chosen as a spiritual guide for this child.  I pray that God will continue to provide His Holy Spirit through me to always direct her in the way she should go.  I love her so much!

Who says prayers aren't answered?  I surely don't.  This year, my sister Jenna reached out to our family.  We are whole...well, as whole as we can be until one more prayer is answered; my mother.  We will continue to ask God to shine his light down, but until then, we will praise Him for bringing our sister back into our lives.  We are so thankful to our merciful Father.  He really is Love.

I hope that each of you had a wonderful holiday season and great 2011.  I hope that your 2012 is filled with love, joy, togetherness, family, friends, and all the other good stuff that makes you smile every day!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

My babies Baxter and Lily

Holiday Updates

Wow!  A lot has happened since I last updated the blog.  I will try to remember everything.  :-)


Thanksgiving
What a great holiday weekend!  Lots of time spent with friends and family...and lots of sports!  Although we lost to Cal State, my first ASU tailgating and football game won't soon be forgetten.  The fact that I was able to share it with Matt, the kids, Kristy, and her entire family made it really special.

  

Sporting our school's colors (she graduated with an ME from ASU)

We celebrated Thanksgiving with southwest flair at Rawhide (second year in a row), the local "old west" themed park.  We panned for gold, watched an old west show, and ate so much red meat we needed to be rolled out of the saloon. :-)  Melissa and I finished off the weekend at As You Wish Pottery where she made Matt a Christmas present and an ornament.  The boys headed over to Dave and Busters for a fun afternoon of arcade game playing.


Running
The family ran the Life Time Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving Day.  Tyler beat Matt (26:26 vs. 27:20), and Melissa and I ran and finished together (33:20).  It was a really REALLY good time.  I think we will plan a few more of those when the kids are here in the future.


My training has been awesome.  I ran the Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon with a PR of 2:17:24, cutting almost 6 minutes off of my last PR.  At a 10:29 pace, I was pretty happy to say the lease!  My goal for Tinker Bell at the end of January is 2:10.  If I continue with my training as is, it should be easy to shave that additional seven minutes off.

Me and "Coach" Brady after the race (he ran a 1:35;08!)

Matt and I ran the 12K's of Christmas a week after the Fiesta Bowl half and I set a new pace for a 12K as well.  I see that I am getting faster and stronger...it is a good feeling to be taking good care of my body and seeing the results.


School
This past semester was very memorable for me.  It was the most difficult thus far.  I pushed myself to the limits as far as studying and saw what I could accomplish with hard work and collaboration with my classmates.  I never felt like I was a student of a specific school back in Michigan.  I feel like I belong here.  I am part of the ASU community.  I AM a Sun Devil.  I finished fall semester strong with three B's and an A.  I am very proud of my success.  Only one year to go! I can't believe it!!


Christmas
I am so dang excited about Christmas.  I get to spend it with my ENTIRE family.  How cool is that.  The first time ever in my life.


I am blessed...blessed beyond belief.

Happy Thanksgiving!

As each of you go to your destinations this holiday weekend, I hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving with your friends and family.  Know that I love each and every one of you so much, and miss you all back home in Michigan (and Jerry and Tiff in Tennessee).  Can't wait to see you for Christmas (April for Nashville)!!

Tyler and Melissa will be here later today (so freakin excited, LOL) and we have such a great Thanksgiving weekend planned - southwest style!  We will see some cowboys, eat some good steak (we all chose to pass on the turkey this year), head over to tailgate and watch some good ASU football with a bunch of our friends and run in the Lifetime Turkey Trot.  I think Missa and I will be going to As You Wish Pottery as well because she did really well on her report card...I am hoping to talk her into decorating ornaments. :-)

Training going well...last night was a good night!

5.5 Miles on My New Shoes!

So, I got my new running shoes last night...for $30 off!  I was geeked.  Matt was pretty shocked.  He thought for sure that I would be spending my paycheck on running shoes...which I usually do.  :-)  Funny enough, I bought the wrong shoes.  However, the ones I purchased were just named the best shoe in the world (click here for information)...are you kidding me?  Even better!  I had thoughts about taking them back because I don't like changing what works well, but I decided to test drive them instead, and I was pleasantly surprised.  I usually do my short quick run on Wednesday/Thursday, but I was comfortable in my new shoes, breathing well, and enjoying it way too much.  It was gorgeous outside!  You couldn't have ask for a nicer evening.  NOW I know why I love living here.  Only 16 more days for the race.  I am excited.  I am going to run another 6-8 miles tonight.  I want to get some wear on these shoes.


Mom and Dad have been gone now for a couple of days, and the house is so quiet again.  Can you believe that when I got home the last evening they were here, they surprised us with all our patio furniture cushions?  I was blown away.  We needed new cushions terribly because the sun had bleached out the ones we had.  Plus, they were the original ones that Matt had at the Troy home, so they were just simply old.  The new ones are beautiful; I love them.  I am so thankful to have Mom and Dad.  They are the best in-laws in the world.


Thankfully, the kids will be here in only a few days.  We have an entire weekend filled for them of fun activities.  I think it will be a nice little break for them (and us!).  I miss them...I miss them so much.


Only a couple more weeks of school...the tension has begun.  I am doing some extra credit on campus tomorrow for my Finance 331 class...it should be interesting.  I really have grown to enjoy being a student of ASU.  This weekend is the ASU / UofA Game.  Go Devils.  Beat the Wildcats!  No pity for the kitty!!!  :-)

I Am...

I Did...

This Christmas Season

Twas the month before Christmas

When all through our land,

Not a Christian was praying

Nor taking a stand.

See the PC Police had taken away

The reason for Christmas - no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing

About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.

It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say

December 25th is just a ' Holiday'.

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit

Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!

CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-Pod

Something was changing, something quite odd!

Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa

In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down

At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.

At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears

You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty

Are words that were used to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen

On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!

At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter

To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith

Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded

The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'

Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.

Choose your words carefully, choose what you say

Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS,

not Happy Holiday!

Please, all Christians join together and

wish everyone you meet

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christ is The Reason' for the Christ-mas Season

Weekend Recap

We always have such a good time when Mom and Dad are here; this time was no exception!  This weekend closed out their vacation with us by heading over to BJ's Brewery on Saturday night for a really relaxing dinner on their outside patio and then spending Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway for some tailgating and the Nascar race.  None of Dad's favorites won, but it was still a really good race; no major accidents.  And Matt and I don't follow Nascar, but had fun watching and cheering on Dad's teams...and having him explain what was going on.  Surprisingly, the day started out rainy and cold, but by race time, it was warm and sunny...a typical day in the valley of the sun!


I finally received email notification that my photo order had been processed for the 3tv 10K.  I thought I would share:

Still smiling!  :-)

I just got done registering the entire family for the Life Time Fitness Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day.  I am really excited to be completing this as a family.  It really makes me smile to see us getting healthy together.  After the race, we will head over to Wild Horse Pass like we did last year to eat a good after-race dinner!

Only a few more weeks and fall semester will be over...and I will OFFICIALLY have only 12 more months of school!  I can't wait!!

3tv 10K - We Ran it Together!

Matt and I crossed the finish line together on Sunday with smiles on our faces!  It was a great feeling to know that we were out there together staying fit and pushing our bodies to the limit.  It wasn't the PR that we both wanted (we wanted to finish under an hour), but it was a good start for our first 10K for the season.  We have a long list of races that we have scheduled, and we can't wait to see what our results will be as we continue to train and eat well throughout the running season.


I did buy some pictures from this past Sunday's race.  I am just waiting for them to be sent through email.  As soon as I get them, I will post.


I officially got my grade for my second exam in Accounting - 79%!  Not too shabby!!  I am very satisfied with that.  I sat down with my adviser on Monday and he said after I had stated that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, "No Olivia, you are at the end of the tunnel.  You should be very proud of yourself!"  I am...I am so thrilled that all of my hard work is paying off and at this time next year, I will be preparing to graduate.

No Excuses!

I needed to find this today...

Last night I showed my interest in running by being sidetracked.  Today I am committed.

Halloween / Exam / Running

I am tired.  The infamous second accounting exam is over.  After studying until 10:30 PM on Saturday night @ the Hayden Library, and repeating the same schedule on Sunday, I felt pretty confident about the material.  Our study group was amazing.  We really pulled it together for many MANY hours!

When I got the exam this morning, I did the written problems right away.  Flew through them!  The multiple choice were a little more difficult, but all-in-all, I think I did a pretty solid job.  I sent an email to the professor asking when we would know our scores because it is killing me not to know.  She said next Tuesday...she noted that she hoped I did good as well.  :-)  That made me feel good!  The study group is going to stick together for the remainder of the semester.  We make a pretty good team!!

I have one more mid term exam tomorrow in my Financial Markets and Institutions class.  I feel pretty confident in that class.  Plus, I have one exam I can throw away if I need to - that may be the one.

My running is going well.  I was unable to make my long run last night because of my exam and Halloween.  I will be doing it tonight.  I did pay the extra money and purchased a digital copy of me crossing the finish line @ Detroit.  I really love that picture...and I'll tell you why.

Three years ago, I was physically a mess.  I thought the answer to a healthier self image was "dieting" (or rather starving).  The only time I was happy was when I would jump on the scale and it would read a pound lighter than it did the time before.  And if you would have asked me to run a long distance I would have told you I couldn't because ______  (you fill in the blank).  Those days are LONG gone!  In fact, I am not even sure why I get on the scale any more.  My days now are planning when I can fit my next run into my school schedule and registering for the next race.  I look at pictures like the one above and think to myself, "Gosh, that is REALLY me!  I had just ran 13.1 miles, and I am still smiling!!"  It just warms my entire body thinking about it.  Am I a skinny mini?  Nope! and don't want to be.  I am healthy, strong, happy me...and I don't wanna be anybody different!!


Halloween was a total bummer this year because of my exam, but I was able to get out of the house for about 2 hours and visit with our neighbors (and have one beer).  Matt fits in really well with all the guys, and I love that.  We are much closer to our neighbors here then we ever were back in MI, but I also think it has a lot to do with being outside because of the weather.  We met the new couple across the street, and I absolutely adore the wife.  She is such a sweet woman.  I can see us being friends.


Matt is in Detroit for the next two days for a meeting.  He was very excited to see the kids.  He was planning on taking them to dinner tonight, and I believe Melissa had a soccer game.  Mom and Dad will be at the house when I get home.  I can't wait to see them!  It has been too long!!  They will be staying with us for the next two weeks...soaking in the beautiful weather.  Only three more weeks and the kids will be here!!!  

Just Stuff!

The past couple of days have been really good. I have been studying hard and running even harder. Brady gave me my running plan for the next 5 weeks...crunch time for Fiesta Bowl! I am totally geeked!!! I a going to push myself for this bad boy -

well, at least something like it...this was from last year LOL. I know my body has more in there. I need to push from deep within; no time to be a sissy.

Matt has been training with me, and I am so SO proud of him. He has registered to complete the 3tv 10K next weekend with me and Brady, so that should be a lot of fun. 10Ks are my absolute favorite! I think it is because my body just starts to get warmed up at the 3 mile mark.

I have my second accounting exam on Tuesday. I have been doing nothing but accounting problems in my head since about 2 weeks ago...I really hope I do well. I have a study group coming over on Saturday to go over all the problems. We need to be able to do the problems quickly because it is a timed exam. I am a little nervous...if I don't kill this exam, I am taking the class again.

I registered for Spring semester today. After Spring, I have 5 classes left! I can't believe it; 5 classes left!!!! I have worked my butt off. I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. My life can finally start next year...wow, it's weird just saying that.

How Does God Speak To You?

Isn't it amazing that during the quietest moments of your day, like the still of the morning's start, God finds a way to break the silence to remind us that he is there, when no one else is?  For me, it is the Hummingbirds that sing to me in my backyard.  Living in Michigan, we had Hummingbirds, but not like we have now in Arizona.  They are such beautiful creatures.  And every morning when I get up to let the dogs out and feed them their breakfast, my little friends are there to wish me a good day in the new day's light my Heavenly Father provided for me...provided for us all.


The past few months have brought many uncertainties to my life, but the one thing I know is that God is always there, watching over me, protecting me...like he always has.  Sometimes he answers the deep questions of my heart, and sometimes he doesn't.  But it doesn't matter because I know he is there.

God Gave Me Wings

Oh yes he did!  I finished the Detroit Half only two minutes over what my Disney Half was...that is practically a miracle!  What did I learn from this?  I need to stay more disciplined - eating better and training WAY more than I did.  Granted, we are just starting our running season and school has been kicking my butt, BUT no excuses for the Fiesta Bowl.  I have 1 month and 2 weeks...let the fun begin!

2011 World Car of the Year - Nissan Leaf

Over the weekend I was able to bring home the new Leaf; Nissan's all-electric vehicle.  I have to say, this car is pretty cool!  With a 100-mile driving range, I was able to go to the gym and get home - about 42 miles - on Friday after work with plenty of electricity to spare.  However, I was home for the night, so I just plugged her in so she would be ready for Saturday.



It is seriously this easy - Plug this end into the car and the other end into your home outlet.  If you have ever used a countertop fryer, charged your cell phone or iPad, you have essentially done the exact same steps as what is required to charge your car...your car!  And the car only charged for about 3 1/2 hours because it was only 1/2 empty.

I was able to place the car on a timer so that it was cool when I was ready to take off on Saturday to do my shopping, and with four doors it made it very easy to get my purchases in and out of the car.  Another awesome change that is happening is the EV charging infrastructure that is coming to the valley.  It was very easy to find a place to charge while away from home. 

If you haven't had the opportunity to check the new Nissan Leaf out yet, be open minded and do so.  I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Weekend Recap

(me in back - pink shirt and black skirt)

Well...Saturday's race was difficult.  I can't think of any better word.  With 90 degrees and 50% humidity, I honestly thought my chest was going to cave in.  What didn't help was that I did not wear my Garmin (I was worried about the water), so I had no real indication of how bad it really was, so I believe it was a lot of mental stuff going on as well.  However, many people commented on the temperature and the lack of "splash zones" (and the water stations had very warm water), so I don't think that I am just being a sissy.  Well, maybe I am.  So, all I can do is learn from this experience.  What I have learned is that I need to learn to run in this heat.  I will start off with one mile, then progress from there.  I have a race in the middle of August with Tyler, and I must be prepared.  I will overcome this.