so it is 4pm and I just got home to realize I have been wearing two different shoes all day long. It has been that kind of day...

the birthday girl

Today is my 32nd birthday and my husband is working, so we celebrated last night. We had 5:30 dinner reservations at our favorite restaurant Cafe 1912. Well we get a phone call at 4pm saying the restaurant was closed for the night. The chef's wife was having a baby. My husband was so disappointed because he had planned some surprises for me. He ran out and came back 5 minutes later with roses he had arranged to be put on the table. He had also planned a special dessert for me - chocolate chip pancakes (it is my favorite!) I cried when I heard how he had been planning all of this. I love him so much for trying to make my birthday special.
We ended up going to his restaurant for my birthday.
Today we went to Putt putt to play skeeball and basketball. we did a best of 7 series. He won but I did give him some competition! I love skeeball! Then he took me to Perkins and I had my chocolate chip pancakes. It was yummy!
I had gotten some Target gift cards for my birthday so I went to Target to buy some things for me! I got 3 shirts and a cute spa bath wrap.
After eating so much in the past 24 hours I certainly could not pass up my run! Another walk run for 2 miles with my running group and now icing my knees and shins!
Kinda sad the birthday is almost over

past few days

Saturday we went running down at Harbortown along the Mississippi River. The breeze felt great. Afterwards My mom and I went to Red Lobster for some snow crab legs. Yummy! Later that night I met my friend Jessica at Folk's Folly for champagne and appetizers to celebrate my birthday. We ended up at Brookhaven a little bit later for some more celebratory drinks!
Sunday was pretty uneventful. Today I woke up at 5 for another run. This time we ran 90 seconds/walk 90 seconds,etc... My legs certainly tightened up today. Later on my in laws are making lunch for me while I meet my family for dinner. It was just easier for everyone to celebrate my birthday today instead of tomorrow.Still can't believe I am turning 32.... still wish I was 25!

Day 4 and then rest

I had a good run on Thursday, but it was definitely harder due to the sun. I was lucky to have a rest day today. I probably could have tried to run by myself, but the last thing I want to do is injur myself and not be able to complete this 8 week program. I really am enjoying running alongside other people! Tomorrow morning Our group is headed down to Harbortown to run along the Mississippi River. I am looking forward to a change of scenery. Also tomorrow starts my big 4 day birthday weekend celebration! Woo hoo! 3 more days to celebrate being 31then it's time to get older!

day 3 .. wet again

I woke up around 5:25 this morning to get ready for my run. I really didn't want to run. I was a little sore and very tired! But again we went running 2 miles in the rain. Luckily the rain wasn't coming down hard. I am so tired. sore, and tight! i am laying on the couch now icing my poor knees!

day 2 - rain, rain go away

So it has been pouring down rain all day today here in Memphis. It finally stopped around 5:45 pm so we went on with our run today. 5 minutes in in started to rain , but it was misting. After another 5 minutes it was pouring down rain. It felt so good, but water kept on running down my face so I was constantly wiping it to get the water out of my eyes. But I finished 1.5 miles walking and running in the pouring rain. Now I say that is some dedication!

and the winner is.....

So I have started to sell Mark products recently, and I just adore them! Their products are fabulous and the price tag is even better! If you would like to visit my store, you can click here to visit! Now for my birthday giveaway #2. My 32nd birthday is July 28th and I wanted other to get goodies like me! I have cut out my entries... now mixing them up...now I just have to close my eyes and pick one.... and the winner is of the oh so cute mark lip gloss kit is....

Whitney!!!! Congrats! Please contact me so I can get your address!
Thank you all for entering!

day 1 - couch to 4 miler

I can't believe I woke up at 5:25am during my summer vacation to go run! Honestly it wasn't that bad getting up that early. I would have preferred sleeping in until 10am, but I need to do this program. Today was day 1 of the couch to 4miler. It is an 8 week program where beginners go from run/ walk to running 4 miles. I felt like signing up for this and knowing that there are people who are in the same boat as me would motivate me more to get out and run. 25 people showed up this morning. We started out with a 5 minute warm up then ran 60 seconds, walked 90 seconds (8 times) then cooled down for 5 minutes and stretched. It was a bit hard - my shins really tightened up. They had 3 running coaches with us. One up front, one in the middle and one in the back. As they ran and walked along with us, they asked how we were feeling and if anything hurt. They made suggestions on how to land on my heel instead of the middle of my foot. It was hard at first then my shins began to loosen. I really felt great realizing that my workout was finished for the day and it was only 6:45am. They gave us a book of what we will be doing for the rest of the 8 weeks. This whole week we will continue to run 60 seconds and walk 90 seconds. The running coaches said even if it gets too easy continue the plan - it will make you a stronger runner. I am really looking forward to tomorrow's 6pm run. I can't skip. If you know me then you know if I skip one time it turns into skipping a whole bunch more. It's kind of like college!

And the winner is...

Ok, so here it goes...I have cut up all of the entries and put them in a pot. The lucky winner of Martha Stewart's Cupcakes book is Shanna! Congrats! I will send you an email about getting this book to you! (let me just copy down a few recipes! hee! hee!) And thank you to all of you who entered!

Don't forget Birthday giveaway #2! I will draw a name on Tuesday!

10 loves

Happiness is tagged me to list some of my 10 loves!
10. Chocolate - seriously I am addicted! I love it!
9. Reading a good book! Some of my favorite authors are James Patterson, Sophie Kinsella, and Jen Lancaster.
8.Dining out -i love going to try new restaurants here in Memphis with my hubby!
7.Tennessee Football! Soon I will hear "It's Football Time in Tennessee!" Go Big Orange!
6.Spa Products -I love to treat my body to new things!
5. Taking naps - Nothing is better than getting in bed and taking a really good 2 hour nap that my body has been really needing!
4.Traveling - I love getting away and escaping my life even if it is for a few days!
3.Making something- I love to be craftsy, but I can never ins the time!
2. My furry babies -Martini (my little chihuahua), maggie mae, and Simba! I love hoe Martini snuggles with me!
1. My new husband! - I love you baby! You are the greatest! I look forward to growing old with you!
p.s. check my previos post for my 2 birthday giveaways!

Birthday giveaway #2!!

So here is birthday giveaway #2...

Lipgloss set from Mark

These glosses are so creamy! I love them!

To enter:

For one entry, click here to visit the mark store and and then post a comment and tell me what your favorite item might be.

For a second entry, become a follower.

For an additional five entries, place an order on the site. (make sure you let me know if you placed an order!)

The giveaway will end on the 20th! And I will post the winner on the 21st!

time to run

Last time I planned on doing a running event, I came down with a kidney infection and strep throat at the same time! So I decided I wasn't ready since it took me so long to recover. But I through this program Get Moving Memphis, I found this awesome couch to 4 miler program!
It start next Monday!
Running times:
Monday 6am, Tuesday 6pm, Wednesday 6am, Thursday 6pm, and Saturday 8am
This program goes for 8 weeks and concludes with the Cooper Young 4 mile run. We start our walking/ running as we build up to 4 miles. I am so excited because this is perfect for me! Plus me attempting to run 5 days a week has to drop off a few pounds, right?
Now I just need to find a good running shoe that won't cost me an arm and a leg!
Any shoe suggestions?

meet mark...

Please click here to learn more about mark's fabulous products!

Book recommendation

So I just finished this great book! It is Hilarious!!! You need to go and get Bitter is The New Black by Jen Lancaster.
She has 4 more books that I can't wait to read!
I must have read it in 3 days! I didn't want to put it down!

If you haven't signed up yet, please check out my birthday giveaway here!

Birthday giveaways!

I let ya'll know in the previous post that my birthday is later this month, but I will be celebrating all of this month! I will be celebrating by doing a couple of giveaways this month. Yay! I am excited!

Giveaway #1 - Nothing is better for celebrating birthdays than CUPCAKES! I have a huge sweet tooth and usually enjoy the icing the best! So I am giving away Martha Stewart's Cupcakes book!

To enter this giveaway -

For 1 entry - comment on what is your favorite cupcake - (Mine is strawberry cake with strawberry cream cheese icing!)

For a second entry, become a follower

For a third entry, write a post about the giveaway

The giveaway ends and a winner will be picked by July 18th!

Good luck!

Finally finished Twilight after a month!

So it took me a month to read the book Twilight! That is so not like me! I can read a James Patterson book in a day! I guess it took me a long time to really get into it since I was reading a chapter or two at a time at night before I fell asleep. Not sure what I expected - I knew it was about vampires but that was it. I think it got good near the end as the hunt started. I guess I like suspense more! I will start New Moon later on today. I heard the two middle books are not as good. Hopefully I will finish them faster than the first!

So many things to catch you up on.
Anyway Summer school is officially over! Yay for me!
Last Wed., we went to Texas de brazil to celebrate my mother's birthday and then went to see Wicked at the Orpheum. I will never look at Wizard of Oz the same. It was really good - just long! I couldn't sit still in my seat.

The start of July is exciting because it is my birthday month! July 28th is the big day I turn 32, but I will be celebrating the whole month! It just makes the birthday so much more exciting! Becoming older can be a little depressing, but if I hype myself up for my birthday then it won't be so bad for me.

July 4th -Mr. M had to work during the day so I ended up having some lunch with my mom and grandmother. Mr. M finally got home late and we had a late dinner at the Bayou and headed over to Studio on The Square to see The Hangover. It was quite hysterical!

Now I have to find somethings to do to occupy my time! Have a great week!