Failed crafts, successful running, and the lack of snow

I found this quick and easy Christmas craft that I thought I would try: glittery votives.  They were supposed to look like this:

Well let's just say they do not look like that.  I think I should have used spray adhesive instead of glue to hold the glitter on because the glue dripped down the sides taking the glitter with it.  And the glitter that is left comes off very easily so they make a mess anywhere I put them.  Oh well, not every project can be successful!

In other news, today I ran for 8 minutes and then 10 minutes with only 2 minutes walking in between.  This is a big improvement for me!  By the end of next week I should be running for 20 minutes with no walking.  I won't tell you how slow I run though because it kind of makes it less exciting.  But I figure that once I get the time down, then I can work on the distance. 

And if you are wondering why it is taking me so long to get through this 9-week program, it is because I am a big baby and I keep repeating weeks because I'm too scared to move on.  That and I quit running for a couple of weeks because it was cold outside and I lost my key to get into the exercise room at the apartment complex.  I had to buy a new one.  For $60!  That shows you how dedicated I am to finish, even if it takes me a whole year.  But it better not because I am aiming to run a 5K in March.  When that actually happens, I want cake or something, because I will have completed the biggest challenge I've ever had to do.  Finishing college, easy.  Running, hard!!

And in final news, it still hasn't snowed here, and I am kind of disappointed.  But I am enjoying this 40 and 50 degree weather we've been having.  If only it didn't have to be freezing to snow...

You know you live in a small town if...

1.  You run into people you know everywhere you go.

2.  All the radio stations come in fuzzy because you're so far away from the big city.
3.  You've stopped going to movies because the only movie theater worth going to is 1.5 hours away.
4.  The entire commercial sector is built off of two roads.
5.  It takes an hour to get to the mall...several towns over.

6.  There are only 5 or 6 decent apartment complexes and when you say which one you live in, everyone instantly knows where it is. 

7.  Cell reception is bad everywhere and in certain parts of town it is nonexistent.

8.  Every new restaurant that opens is impossible to get into without waiting an hour.


Ok so I realize that some of you may be laughing at me because you have lived in REALLY small towns and this is nothing...but having lived my whole life in one of the biggest cities in the country, this feels like small-town America to me.  The lack of convenience can be annoying but it certainly has charm that Houston does not have.  Now if only we could get a decent Tex Mex restaurant...

Date Night

*This picture was from a college Aggie game.

Sometimes date night doesn't really look like date night.

Yesterday after church we cut down a Christmas tree and we (mostly James) did the hard work of sawing a bit off the trunk and getting it secured in the stand.  And then I made a quick (read: not very good) pizza and we watched America's Funniest Home Videos together on the couch with a very snuggly dog and ate blah pizza and laughed our heads off.  Laughing may be good for your health, but laughing together is good for your marriage, I'm convinced.  Then we made a trip to Target for the stuff we still needed for the tree, holding hands, talking about traditions, and trying on hats. 

There was no fancy restaurant, no nice clothes, no candlelight, and yet it was one of the best "dates" I can remember.  I'm so thankful for James and that we can find fun and laughter in the everyday life!

Christmastime already?

*The tree still needs a star and maybe some ribbon.

I've been meaning to write a post for the past week but haven't had much to write about.  I can't believe it's already December and we've been here for 3 months!  It's been a lovely fall with the temperature gradually falling and then going back up again for a few days of respite.  I thought I would be overly sensitive to the cold, but it has given me a chance to get used to it before plunging me in. 

Yesterday we got our first real Christmas tree!  We went to a local tree farm and chopped it down.  Real trees are a lot of work!  Now I understand why my Dad would put up the tree and then just sit on the couch directing when it came to lights and ornaments.  :-)  But it was fun to see the tree come together, even though the branches are very prickly and putting the ornaments on made my fingers hurt from getting poked so much.  I just love Christmas decorations, I wish I could leave them up all year!  I don't know who instituted the strange idea of putting a live tree inside your house for Christmas, but I'm glad they did.

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving!  This morning I'm drinking coffee and watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and later I will be putting my turkey and casseroles in the oven.  Here's what I am thankful for today.

Nov. 18:   I am thankful for the freedom we have in this country, especially the chance to worship God freely.

Nov. 19:  I am thankful that I was raised in a wonderful, loving, Christian home.

Nov. 20:  I am thankful for my three crazy brothers, my sweet and caring mom, and my solid and dependable dad.  I couldn't have asked for a better family!

Nov. 21:  I am thankful for all the beautiful and amazing nature that God has created! 

Nov. 22:  I am thankful for chocolate :-)

Nov. 23:  I am thankful for lazy Saturday mornings with no schedule.

Today:  I am thankful for the start of the holiday season, a chance to celebrate with my husband, and most of all for the delicious food!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 

Thankful

I'm a day late with my third Thankful post, whoops!  So here are 8 things I am thankful for.

Nov. 11: I'm thankful for my sweet dog who keeps me company all day and has the softest fur ever.

Nov. 12:  I am so thankful for a large extended family and getting together with both my mom and dad's side at least once a year even though we live across six different states!  I always used to take it for granted, but I realize now that a lot of families don't get along, and the fact that we all speak to each other and enjoy seeing each other is a blessing.

Nov. 13:  I am thankful that any information I want to know can be found easily through the internet.

Nov. 14:  I am thankful for good running shoes.

Nov. 15:  I am thankful for coffee.  It does nothing to help me be more alert, but somehow the morning ritual of having a cup is soothing and nice.  Also it smells the best.

Nov. 16:  I am thankful for the Holy Spirit!

Nov. 17:  I am ever so thankful for the loving, Christian home I was raised in and for my wonderful parents, grandparents, and brothers.


Nov. 18:  I am thankful for my health and for good medical insurance.

Thanksgiving is next week!  What are you thankful for?

Running, Week 5

So today I started Week 5 of my running program.  I know, technically I've been running for about 2 months now, but I'm taking the program very slow and repeating weeks when I feel I need to.  I was pretty nervous about this week because last week I slacked off and only ran once.  Also, I lost the keycard to get into the workout room here at the apartment complex (it's $60 and a waiting list to get a new one!), so I have to run outside exclusively now, which I find to be harder than on a treadmill. 

This week has a 5-minute warm-up followed by three sets of running for 5 minutes and walking for 3.  It went really well!  I completed it without feeling like I was going to die, and that is an accomplishment.

Now if the cold weather could just hold off until my keycard magically appears, I'll be set!