Thankful Thursday: I'm thankful for...my husband!

I feel so blessed to be where I am today, for my health, my family, friends, job, a roof over my head...the list could go on forever. So I thought a weekly post titled Thankful Thursday was quite fitting. (Side note: I found the butterfly and breast cancer logo image online. My mom said if she was ever to get a tattoo, this would be it...same for me.)

My husband, Brent, and I have been married for over three years now. We met in the second semester of our sophomore year at the University of Memphis and have been inseparable ever since...March 15, 2002 to be exact (it's the Ides of March and a day in between Brent's mom and my mom's birthdays, so we can't forget).

Since that time, we have been through ups, downs, so many fun times, and more laughs than I can remember. We've been there for each other through losses, family issues, bad jobs, new and exciting jobs, several moves, health scares, been to exotic destinations, raised the wonderful Buster the Boston Terrier, and so much more. Our first trip together was to Oxford, Mississippi...exciting, huh? Well, to us, it definitely was. We spent a semester in Orlando working for Walt Disney World, learning more about each other than we ever planned. We took a scuba diving class in my second to last semester at Memphis and were certified later that year in Key Largo, Florida. We went skydiving together. We've traveled to Jamaica, Mexico, and the Bahamas...not to mention the U.S. locales of Atlanta, Las Vegas, Key West, Charleston, New Orleans, Chattanooga, and probably a few more. We both LOVE to travel and explore, and we've been so fortunate to have done so much of both in the almost nine years we've been together.

Just about every day I come home from work, Brent has started cooking dinner, cleaned up the house, and taken care of everything from waiting for the pest control person to taking Buster to the vet to paying the bills to making sure we have the most pristine lawn in the neighborhood. If it weren't for my husband, we wouldn't be nearly as financially stable as we are...not that we have a lot of money by any means. But he is so wonderful about budgeting (a gene I severely lack), and for that reason, we've been able to pay off so many things, save money, and start planning for our future.

He is one of the most passionate people I have ever met. He is so loyal to his friends, he thinks the world of his brother and all his siblings (as do I), and he would give the shirt off his back to help someone in need. He can be incredibly spontaneous, which is one of the things I love most about him. Oh yeah, he's pretty buff, too. :) While he may not be the most romantic person in the world, he sure does have a way of surprising even himself...much like he did when he proposed to me. :)

We may have our differences about budgeting, when we want kids, and other silly things (like swearing :), but I can honestly say, there's no one in this world I'd rather be going through this journey with. I love you, Brent. And I'm so thankful for your love and friendship.

3-year anniversary trip to Bahamas!

Big Wig Ball :)

Brittney and Frank's wedding in Charleston!

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The Date is Set!

As 2011 gets underway, I'm proud to announce I have officially set a date to complete my first resolution...running a marathon!

Autumn and I will be running the Country Music Marathon on April 30, 2011. While this doesn't give me as much time as I'd hoped to train (mentally), it actually works out even better. We'll be training in the most perfect time of year before it gets too hot, we're already at half marathon distance, so it's not like we're starting from scratch, it's only a three-hour drive to get to our race locale, and we have friends to stay with while we're there!

While all my races up until now have been for time and to get a new PR, this marathon (most likely my one and only marathon) will not be run as such. I will be running solely to cross the finish line, paying no mind to time or pace. Well...maybe pace a little. :) Our plan as of now is to run a mile, walk a minute, run a mile, walk a minute, etc. My goal is to finish and remain injury-free during training. I'm so excited!!

I'll be sure to log all my training runs here and of course on my MapMyRun.com profile. Wish me luck!

2011 New Year's Resolutions

I'd like to say I never make New Year's resolutions, because (1) I don't believe in making resolutions just because it's a new year, (2) I want it to be a lifestyle change, or (3) you're just setting yourself up for failure (as my husband would say). But that's totally not me.

I make resolutions each and every year. And though I don't always make it a point to keep them, I still think it's a fun tradition. So here goes...

2011 New Year's Resolutions


Professional:

• Finish a project completely before moving on to the next one. I have a bad habit of spreading myself too thin and not doing important projects to the best of my potential...because I start too quickly on the next "to do."
• Complete a 30-day blog challenge. I've done a better job updating our company blog as of late, but I'm nowhere near where I want to be in terms of posts. My plan is to do this the entire month of February...or maybe Feb 15-March 15. We'll see...
• Take away at least two innovative (and new) strategies or tactics at each marketing conference I attend this year, and begin implementing them in my own marketing plan.

Personal:

• Run a marathon
• Complete a 30-day blog challenge for myself as well. This will be tough. Doing something in your spare time that you do for work often takes the fun out of things. But hopefully that won't be the case here...and hopefully I'll have topics of interest to write about. :)
  
• Get pregnant...or not (this is out of my control, obviously)
• Be happy with the life I've been given. I have no control over others or other situations, but I do have control over myself.

Happy New Year, friends!

Who's Divorced?!

We are so blessed...truly. Everyone in my immediate family lives here in Memphis, and no matter what, we all get together for every birthday, holiday, and family function. My parents got divorced when I was 13, a freshman in high school. Needless to say, it wasn't the easiest of times.

Around the middle of my freshman year of college, things started turning around. It was a VERY slow process, but eventually people were forgiven, debts were paid (financial and emotional), and about three years ago, we became the most functional divorced I've ever known.

My parents get along better now than they ever did, one of them pays for all of us when we get together for dinner, they still buy each other birthday and Christmas gifts, and most importantly, they let all four of us (my two sisters, sweet baby Bailey, and myself) know that we are the most important part of their lives. They have always done whatever they've had to in order to make us feel loved, protected, and provided for.

Not to mention earlier this month, my parents woke up at the crack of dawn and made the frightful trek downtown (I say that for those of you who've tried to drive anywhere in Downtown Memphis on St. Jude Marathon day) TOGETHER to cheer me on during the St. Jude Half Marathon. It was a total surprise to me, and a memory I will cherish forever. Thank you for that!!

I must say, I have the most AMAZING parents in the world. Divorced or not, I wouldn't change a thing about my family. I love you all!

2010 St. Jude Half Marathon!

This race marked my fourth half marathon, and I was determined to get a PR. To top it off, I entered as a St. Jude Hero! St. Jude has always held a special place in my heart, as I absolutely LOVE children. The work this hospital does to save children's lives is beyond amazing, and it's a dream of mine to one day work in the Communications department for ALSAC, the fundraising company that supports St. Jude. Brent's cousin, Scott Elrod, spent a lot of time here in high school. He passed away on April 4, 2000, his senior year, from Acute Lymphoblastic Lymphoma. Read more about his amazing story here.

In case you're not familiar with St. Jude, here is their mission statement: The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay.

Back to the half marathon... Autumn and I have been running together for the past two and a half years, and I am SO thankful for her company, guidance, motivation, and fantastic humor. :) She has run something crazy like 20 full marathons, and she is my inspiration!

Last year, we ran with our friend, Hayley, who kept us at a super fast pace. Hayley was pregnant for most of 2010, so she wasn't able to run with us as much this year. While we didn't have her speed, Autumn and I picked up our mileage, logging numerous 8-milers, seven 10-milers, one 12-miler, and even a pre-St. Jude half marathon! (Autumn of course ran a lot more and further distances, as she was running 26.2 vs. my 13.1.) Needless to say, we were prepared. That being said, I wasn't too sure I would reach a PR, having not done many speed workouts.

When race day arrived, we were beyond excited. We couldn't have asked for better weather...overcast, breezy, upper 50s. Absolute perfection. We met up with a few friends beforehand, stretched out, and lined up in the fourth corral. I was feeling pretty good for the first five miles - no knee or hip pain, which was a nice break from the norm. There were people cheering us on throughout the entire course, and we even got to run through St. Jude campus for the second year; it was awesome! And since I was wearing a Heroes jersey, that got us even more screams. At the beginning of mile six, I could feel myself start to slow down a bit. Then I got a wonderful surprise...as we ran up to the 6.5 marker, I saw both my parents cheering for us, complete with a huge poster with mine and Autumn's names. It was such a wonderful surprise and exactly the motivation I needed!! After that, Autumn, Lindsey (Autumn's friend who also happened to be running the full), and I kept up our energy and were making great time as we hit the Gu station. Ahh, Gu...gotta love it! Then again, somewhere along mile 10, I saw my wonderful parents cheering us on. THANK YOU, Mom and Dad! You are the BEST!!

As I turned to take on the last mile, Autumn and Lindsey headed in the other direction to run another half. I have to say I was so thankful I wasn't them...but you go girls! I pushed myself for the last mile, though I know I could've shaved another 30 seconds off my time had I pushed just a little harder. Can't complain too much, though. I finished in 1:47...a new PR!! It was an incredible race, and one made even more special having been a St. Jude Hero. I can't wait to run it again next year and hopefully raise double what I did in 2010!

Happy running!

 Autumn: the best running partner ever!

 Love these ladies!

About to cross the finish line at 1:47! Whoop!!

The Joy of a New Pair of Running Shoes

One moment you're enjoying a relaxing Zen run in the park. The next, like a marionette whose strings have been cut, you're viewing the world from the ground, hugging your leg...or knee...or hip. Now is when you wish you had switched those fun Puma sneakers for a decent pair of running shoes.

Don't get me wrong, I love a pair of good-looking, casual sneakers as much as the next girl. But when it comes to running, I don't mess around with my shoes. I made the mistake of running a half marathon (my first) in a pair of old Nikes...I was out of commission for the next eight months. Never again! After that, I vowed to never buy running shoes based on their color or style. In case you didn't know, this is a super hard habit to break. I also made it point to visit Fleet Feet, and let them tell me what I should be wearing. Speaking of Fleet Feet, let me brag on the staff a for a minute. While I had been running for a good number of years before my first half marathon, I was a newbie in so many ways...what I wore, my shoes, the whole iPod debate, etc. I walked into the store and was immediately treated like family. They wanted to know everything about me, my running history, why I started running, why I love it, and more. It was an incredible feeling to be able to share my passion for running with someone who felt the same way. They watched how I ran and determined why I needed a certain type of shoe. Then we tried three different pairs, I ran around the store, and finally I found MY shoe. It was absolute bliss!

Now, every 5-6 months, I venture back over to this wonderful world of running shoes and pick out a new pair. It's the highlight of my running year!

What's my favorite shoe, you ask? That's easy...the Brooks Ghost 3! Asics and New Balance are excellent brands as well.

If you're looking for some good, very detailed tips on buying your next pair of shoes, check out the 2010 Runner's World Shoe Guide!

Happy running!

10-Year Reunion

Geez, I'm old.

Where to begin with high school? Sadly, most of my high school days are a blur, with the exception of cheerleading, competitions, my best friend Erika, and senior year. My parents went through a messy divorce when I was a freshman, and we moved from our nice home in the suburbs to a three-bedroom apartment. It was quite the culture shock...and the fact that my older sister was away at college and I was stuck being the man of the house and dealing my little sister's temper tantrums, I think I subconsciously blocked out portions of this time in my life. Or maybe it was consciously...whatever.

That's not to say there weren't some really good times in there. Cheering for Houston High School was the highlight of my high school career. I made so many wonderful friends through it (even got my first well-paying job through it...which led to my first full-time job after graduating college), stayed in fantastic shape, and I was actually pretty good at it (I should hope so, having started in the fourth grade). We were National Champs both my freshman and senior years. Some of the best memories of my life!

Senior year was by far the best for me. I finally started going out, Erika and I were getting into all kinds of mischief, my home life was getting better, I loved all my classes, and most importantly, I was looking forward to getting out on my own. Work, parties, soccer games, cheerleading practice, parties...that pretty much wraps up 12th grade.

10 years later = quite a few mistakes made, lots of lessons learned (I believe it's not a mistake if you learn from it...so technically they weren't "mistakes" :), new friends, getting back in touch with old friends, new jobs, understanding the true meaning and value of family and friends, marriage, moves, and lots travels. And then we arrive at our reunion. What a party it was! It took place at the same locale as my wedding reception, the Historic Daisy...you should totally check it out (FYI: great venue, HORRIBLE management). A flood of memories started rushing back...the silly inside jokes, the crushes...and more. It's hard to believe we're 10 years older, though sometimes I definitely feel it. It was so much fun catching up with so many people, hearing about their fabulous careers, learning who had children and/or who was pregnant, where their paths had taken them, and just about everything else we already knew via Facebook.

Just as a few years of high school were a blur, this long evening of heavy (and FREE!) drinking turned out to be quite the same. A job well done, in my opinion. :) A highlight of the night was meeting my neighbor, Jenny. I went to school with her husband, Ian, and though they had lived basically across the street from us for over a year, this was the first time we met. Drinking of course...how typical. Now we're friends for life. Good times!

See you all again in 2020!

 Autumn... my running buddy!

 Love these ladies!! 

 Hope!! We started cheering together in the fourth grade...now she's an Aussie!

 Love you, Jason!!

Too many shots and way too much dancing later...

Early anniversary trip to the Bahamas!

While our actual anniversary is not until September 29, we decided (super last-minute, I might add) to take an early trip to celebrate. We literally booked it a week and a half before we left, which is NOTHING like me. I am pretty adamant when it comes to planning, so I was quite proud of myself. :) But we knew this would be the only time we could go, as I'm not able to take any vacation in August, Brent has VIPs in town the week of our actual anniversary, and in September, I already have two work trips planned, we have bachelor/bachelorette parties to attend, and Brent is in a wedding... plus, my boss was out of town all of July, so it was perfect!

We knew we wanted to go all-inclusive, since we've yet to go wrong with the other two we've been on. And being that we're certified scuba divers, we knew this was the way to go. We were hoping to go to St. Lucia; I have heard such amazing things about that island. Not only was it way too expensive, but we couldn't find a deal that worked with our travel schedule. We finally decided on Sandals Emerald Bay in Great Exuma, Bahamas.

INCREDIBLE is the only word I have to describe it! Everything from the food to the cocktails to the pristine grounds to the fabulous people we met made this trip completely unforgettable. Well... that and the fact that we experienced our first Tropical Storm! We only had one bad weather day, but sadly, we weren't able to go diving even once due to winds and the strong current. :( We didn't let that spoil our fun, though! And at least we were able to put on the gear during our refresher course.

We took advantage of everything the resort had to offer. After the third day with the red flag waving, the water sports staff took us to another part of the island where the current and wind weren't so strong. While there, we went kayaking, drank some authentic Bahamian beer, went snorkeling, drank more beer, played beach volleyball, and drank some more beer. The next day, we took an amazing tour of the Emerald Reef Golf Club, which is featured on the Golf Channel's Big Break Sandals Resorts... The day after that, we met up with our friends Matthew and Margaret and played a round (well, the boys played and the girls drank champagne) on the most beautiful course I've ever seen. Crystal clear blue water stretching for miles and listening to the waves... I could've spent the rest of our vacation out there! We spent the week eating the most exquisite food I've ever tasted, drinking the most delicious cocktails ever made, and truly enjoying ourselves being surrounded by fun people.

On our last full day, we took a water taxi over to Stocking Island... Everyone we met told us this was a can't-miss while in the Exumas. And were they right!! We docked right at the entrance to Chat 'N' Chill, the most laid back, yet happening, bar I've ever been to. They were having a pig roast right on the deck, we watched boats and yachts of all sizes pull up and dock right on the beach, we swam with stingrays, and the fresh conch salad (which was made right in front of us)... uhhhhhh-mazing!

After a few hours of drinking, swinging on the rope, walking around and mingling with the locals, we met one of the coolest people in the world. His name was Patrick, and after about an hour of telling our life stories, we find out he's an undercover DEA agent. About five minutes later, we meet a boat-full of his "co-workers." They were awesome! Four hours and several mixed drinks later, the water taxi service had long-since stopped running, and our new best friends took us back to our island on their boat. They begged us to continue partying with them that night, but seeing as how neither of us could stand up for a long period of time and we were scheduled to leave the resort at 6 am, that didn't happen.

Needless to say, the trip was Heaven! That is, until the day we left... We were supposed to land in Memphis around 6 pm, but after a layover in Nassau (delayed an hour and a half) and another in Atlanta (delayed almost five hours... with us on the plane!), it was close to 1 am when we landed at good ol' Memphis International. We were absolutely exhausted, but the trip was so worth it! Can't wait to plan our four-year trip! :)

Ben & Christina's wedding!

The last Wilson wedding...this year, anyway! Chattanooga has always been a favorite city of mine. Brent took me to visit his brother when we first started dating, and I've loved it ever since.

We packed up the car (with Buster in tow!) on Thursday afternoon and made excellent time, getting in town around 7 pm. Ben met us at the hotel, and then we met up with Brittney and Frank and another couple and headed over to Taco Mac, one of the MANY fabulous restaurants in Chattanooga. A few cocktails and some good eats, and we called it a night.

The next morning, Brittney and I met up with the bridesmaids for a fabulous luncheon at Bluewater Grill. It was a wonderful celebration of friends and fun, and we were honored to be a part of it. Everything from the food to the excellent wine selection was incredible. That afternoon, everyone pitched in to decorate the rustic River Inn, where both the ceremony and reception were taking place. Suffice it to say the wedding planner was not on her game, so we took matters into our own hands and brought Christina's creative masterpiece to life. She and her bridesmaids did an amazing job planning, and to see it all come together was so exciting.

Once the rehearsal was finished, we met up with the wedding party at Food Works for the Rehearsal Dinner. The Wilsons sure know how to choose their restaurants! Amazing food, lots of laughs, and a wonderful slideshow that painted the perfect picture of Ben and Christina's life together!

Wedding day has arrived! While everyone was a little worried about the weather not cooperating, mother nature was nice to us...It stopped raining two hours before the ceremony and didn't rain again the entire night!

The wedding was so laid back and fun, just like the beautiful couple. Guests were served Rum and Cokes or Arnold Palmers before making their way to the scenic deck, where the ceremony was taking place, overlooking the Tennessee River. Her dress was absolutely gorgeous, and the ceremony was perfect. After a few family pictures and quite a few more drinks, we made our way inside. Once again, the food did not disappoint...and neither did the band: Love Peace and Happiness. They were awesome, and there wasn't a single person who wasn't gettin' down on the dance floor. Gotta love a jazz/soul wedding band!

The next day, we walked around Downtown Chattanooga, ate lunch at Big River (my fave!), and just enjoyed the day with friends and family.

Congratulations, Ben and Christina! We had a blast! For more info on their rustic, country chic wedding, visit http://www.theknot.com/ourwedding/christinacross&benwilson.

Brittney & Frank's Wedding in Charleston!

Oh Charleston, how I love thee!

My beautiful sis-in-law, Brittney, and her then fiance, Frank, moved to Charleston in April in 2009. Frank was transferred for work, and Brittney got a job at the local children's hospital. It was sad to see them go, but we were so excited to have family in such a fun city to visit!

Brent and I were lucky enough to get a few extra days off work, so we left on Wednesday afternoon and flew to Atlanta to meet up with Ben and Christina before the four of us headed to SC the next morning. That night, we went to a local Mexican restaurant, El Azteca, and consumed a few too many margaritas before calling it a night. The next morning, I got to run at my FAVORITE place, Piedmont Park, right in Midtown ATL...I absolutely love running here! We piled in the car shortly after and made it to Charleston around 5pm.

After we got settled in the super awesome beach house in Folly Beach, we went to Bert's Market to pick up some essentials (i.e. beer and koozies for the weekend). Their slogan is "We might doze, but we never close." Love it!! After that, the girls went over to a condo of one of the bridesmaid's for a low-key girl's night, and the boys took Frank out for his bachelor party. Quite a few hours and rum drinks later, we made it back to the beach house and passed out.

The next day, I was able to get in a wonderful five-mile run along the beach. It. was. awesome...to say the least. I sooo want to live by the beach! Rehearsal started at 1pm, and it went about as smoothly as it could. Next, we all traveled to Rita's Seaside Grille for the Rehearsal dinner. As always, Rita's did us right and everyone had a blast! If you've never been, you have to go at least once...if for nothing else, the people-watching is top notch!

Wedding day!! It seemed like just about everything was working against Brittney and Frank on 4/17. The annual Folly Beach Sea and Sand Festival was taking place that day, so EVERYONE from the wedding planner to the photographer to the caterer to the guests were running late. Thankfully, everyone arrived just in time... Then there was the wind factor. Everything was set up on the roof of the beach house, because that was where the reception was going to take place. The guys realized around noon that day that the wind wasn't going to cooperate and things would be flying off all night. So everything was moved down to the ground, into the garage and partially in the driveway. It turned out to be a GREAT move, and everything looked beautiful! Then came the dress fiasco...Brittney was already in a funk over her dress (most likely because she's had it for so long). But it was absolutely GORGEOUS on her! She accidentally rubbed against a huge pile of foundation makeup... After trying multiple house-cleaning items, including bleach pens, Windex, and more, Clorox wipes did the trick. You couldn't even tell when we were done! Major kudos to Brittney, as she remained calm and was even able to laugh it off. I would have flipped out!

Finally, it was time for the wedding. It was a gorgeous ceremony right on the beach. It couldn't have been more perfect. And the reception...let's just say it almost put mine to shame. :) Great food, great drinks, and great fun had by all!

It was so sad to leave the next morning, but reliving the memories of the weekend kept us laughing all the way back to Atlanta!

Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Conroy!!! Brent and I were so honored to have been part of your special day. For more info on their spectacular wedding, visit http://www.theknot.com/ourwedding/brittneywilson&frankconroy.